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Top 5 Green Actions

Lately I’ve been noticing that I am easily distracted. I get my mind set on doing something based on what an “expert in the field” is saying only to turn around and hear another “expert” telling me I need to be doing something else. With all the modes of communication available to me it’s easy to be bogged down with excessive information. I feel like they are just throwing bits and pieces of stories at me and hoping something will stick.

This is especially true when it comes to living green. There are about a hundred thousand things everyone could be doing to build a better world but it would be impossible for every person to do each of these things. I’ve narrowed it down to what I believe are the top five things. These are the actions I personally can see myself continuing to do or working toward doing more often.

1. Buying less stuff

We live in a culture where buying and having more stuff and a bigger place to keep it all is marketed as the fastest way to find happiness. I believe this to be wrong. Work on finding happiness within yourself through relationships, hobbies and activities. Collect only things that you actually need, rather than things that are advertised to make you think you want them.

• 12 Weeks of Wellness is a good place to start your journey to healthiness and happiness.
• Try my 30-Day Self Improvement Challenge.

2. Buying products from socially responsible companies

There are certain things you will probably never stop buying and for each person these special items may be different. Be sure that you are purchasing your favorite items from socially and environmentally responsible companies. Follow the links to my guides below for more information:

• Green is the New Black – clothing
• Earth Angel – sustainable makeup and cosmetics
• Greening Your Home: Part 1 – furniture, flooring, wall treatment, building; Part 2 – decorating; and Part 3 – cleaning
• All that Glitters May Not Be Your Best Friend – wearing sustainable bling
• Cleanliness is Next to Godliness – Hair Care 
• The Perfect Ten – manicures, pedicures and nails
• Sustainable Holidays

And be sure that when you do make purchases you bring your reusable bag.

3. Using alternative forms of transportation

The most significant change an individual could make toward reducing their carbon footprint is to cut down on how much they drive. Trains, buses, bikes, carpool. Avoid spending time in a vehicle occupied only by yourself and your imaginary friend. Read more in Getting Around.

4. Eating less meat and more sustainably grown and harvested food

Meat
Recognize the importance of knowing where your food comes from and what is being used to grow or raise it. Find out more, read Buying Food: The Naked Truth about Local and Organic. Decide for yourself whether fish should be on your menu: 

• Can the Ocean Keep Up with the Hunt? – A summary of the video
• Mission Blue – My review on the documentary

5. Conserving energy and water at home

When it comes to conserving energy and water, small adjustments can have a big impact. Protect the environment by conserving energy and water with these 100+ tips. Additionally, check out The Pros and Cons of Wind Power.

Mittens

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

One of my favorite picture books is The Mitten by Jan Brett. It’s a classic Ukrainian folktale retold and stunningly illustrated by Ms. Brett, The Mitten follows the adventures of little Nicki, who loses his white mitten in the snow — and the curious crew of woodland animals who happen upon it and have their mischievous fun.

Follow Maggie Haseman’s board Warm Woolen Mittens on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a terrific Tuesday!

-xoxo-

Winter

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

The icy air smells pure and fresh as it whistles around stinging ears. Numb feet walk leaving crisp, new footprints in the snow. Sounds are quieter, muffled, and the world is eerily serene. Many layers of clothing are snug as snowflakes gently fall. The branches of trees bow low under their heavy load. Everything glistens brightly under a clean, white blanket of snow. Winter is here.

Read more about winter time and some Winter Solstice traditions of the past and present in the article I wrote for Boulder County Parks and Open Space quarterly publication, Images.

Follow Maggie Haseman’s board Silver White Winters on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

-xoxo-

Look Beneath the Surface

This award-winning video was published on April 16th, 2012. It was made by the Environmental Protection Agency. Take a moment to watch it and see what is beneath the surface.

The little things we do or do not do can have the biggest impact on our environment. We produce plastic for the sake of convenience and it becomes garbage. Imagine how much of a difference we could make if we reduced this waste simply by recycling or better yet, used reusable packaging and containers.

We can all make a difference and help protect our environment!

-xoxo-

Birds

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

Birds are fascinating creature and I’ve only just recently… almost… gotten practically… completely over my my fear of them. They are so beautiful too, I love looking at these pictures of the amazing colors they display. There is so much to learn about birds so check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds website so you can start your bird-watching adventures today!

Follow my Birds board on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

-XOXO-

Current Projects – Bunny Slippers

Bunny Slippers

These comfy slippers are for sale in my Etsy store. They make a great gift for a friend or a family member. You might even want a pair for yourself!! They will keep your feet warm, are adorable and are made to order. Just imagine wearing these slippers while you are relaxing by a fire in the cold winter months.

Listing includes one pair of slippers in any color (select from the drop down menu) made using 100% acrylic yarn, for durability and comfort. They feature floppy ears with bows a cute bunny face and a fluffy tail.

Select your size (5-10, sorry no half sizes) from the drop down menu when you order.

Let me know which accent color you prefer in the comment box. I will choose a complimenting color if none is specified. If you would like these slippers in any other color combination please let me know through conversation. 

This pattern was purchased from: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoGirlsPatterns

25 Compliments That Aren’t About Appearance

It’s easy to slip into a habit of always complimenting someone based on the way they look. Your eyes overpower your brain when it comes to noticing things about other people. Make sure the people close to you know that you value them for more than their outer appearance because people are complex and the majority of what makes them special to you comes from the things you can’t see.

Here are a few ideas for complimenting someone without commenting on the way they look.

1. You’re unique.
2. I like your voice.
3. You’re helpful.
4. I think your ideas/beliefs matter.
5. I’m so happy to know you.
6. I like listening to what you have to say.
7. You’re a kind and warm hearted person.
8. It’s nice seeing such kindness.
9. I like how down to earth you are.
10. You have a beautiful soul.
11. You inspire me to become a better person.
12. Our conversations make me happy.
13. It’s good to see how passionate you are about ____.
14. You’re so understanding.
15. You matter a lot to me.
16. You’re important.
17. You’re intelligent.
18. Your passion is contagious.
19. Your confidence is refreshing.
20. You restore my faith in humanity.
21. You’re very creative.
22. You’re so talented at ____.
23. I don’t get tired of you the way I get tired of other people.
24. You have great taste in ___.
25. I wish more people were like you.

-XOXO-

What’s you favorite non-appearance based compliment?

Healthy Energy Drinks

It’s an all too true reality of life, noon comes and goes and takes with it your productivity and attention span. That’s when we reach for those liquid cures in hopes of actually getting some work done before the sun goes down. Be it your fifth cup of coffee, a fizzy sugary soda pop or the magic energy potion in the shiny metal can.

So I got to thinking, is there a way to get passed that afternoon sleepy slump without the sugar/caffeine? Well try these substitutes and see for yourself.

The Fire and Rain – 3-4 8oz glasses throughout the day

• filtered water
• 1 slice lemon
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Sleep is the best thing you can do for you body in terms of keeping it functioning at optimum levels. But, let’s face it between work, family and friends and keeping up with hobbies, getting 7-8 hours every night is next to impossible. Staying hydrated is the next best thing and this drink will help you in this endeavor. It’s just water with a squeezed lemon slice and a pinch of cayenne pepper. The lemon adds flavor and is alkaline, which helps your body maintain a healthy pH level. The cayenne pepper helps raise energy levels naturally and provides protection for your heart by helping to maintain proper cardiovascular movement throughout the body.

The Elixir Vitae – as needed, during the day, not before bed

• hot water
• 1 1/2 – 2 tsp honey (to taste)
• 1 inch of fresh ginger root
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp tumeric

Cut off two thin slices of ginger and place in your cup or mug. Use a garlic press to juice the remaining ginger into your mug. Add spices, fill your mug with hot water and stir.

This delicious drink is the closest thing to a non-caffeine/refined sugar pick me up. Ginger speeds up metabolism and increases circulation. It also aids in the digestive process which can help stave off the post lunch coma that contributes to the afternoon slump. Turmeric, a cousin of ginger, also helps speed things up in the body, including energy levels. And Cardamom has long been valued medicinally for its ability to increase circulation and improve energy. Honey is mother nature’s equivalent of an energy shot and is one of the best kinds of sugars for your body.

The Preemptive Measure  – 1 glass in the morning

• 1 ripe banana
• 1/4 cup raw almonds or 2 tbsp almond butter
• 1 scoop of high quality whey protein powder (low sugar content)
• 2 washed kale leaves
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1 cup milk of choice

A deficit of protein in your die is often the reason for fatigue. A morning protein shake is a really easy and delicious way to make sure that you’re starting the day off well fueled. Pair this with a piece of whole grain toast and you have everything you need to give you a solid energy foundation for the day.

Friendship, Adventure and Wishes in Bend, OR

My friend Jules and I just returned from a long-weekend trip to Bend, OR.

Bend is going on my list of favorite places. It reminds me so much of Boulder, CO where I grew up, I felt very homesick while visiting. It’s ecology is considered high desert so I took comfort in the dry mountain air and the familiar flora. The surrounding mountains and buttes give ample opportunity to explore the great outdoors and the fresh mountain springs provide excellent conditions for brewing beer.

Photo Credit – Julianna Large

Here are a few things I learned throughout our visit:

1. If the wine selection is limited to “the red one” and “the white one,” it’s not gonna be very good. 
2. Beer can only be improved upon when brewed with pumpkin and served in a caramel sugar-rimmed glass.
3. Ten 3-ounce samples of beer for $10 may sound like a good deal, but it’s still 30 ounces, no matter how you look at it.
4. A hot beverage and a game of shuffleboard, even when you don’t know the rules, is the perfect way to spend your night when the wind and freezing air keep you indoors.
5. Always check the map before heading out on a hike. It’s surprisingly easy to get lost on 100% of trails tested, even the one that only has one trail.
6. There is no problem that can’t be fixed by a long soak in a hot pool. We all just want to be soup.
7. Wishes can come true if you just ask.
8. If you try to be cultured and take the round-about art tour, you should probably just pass. Get a cup of coffee, talk about life and love, read National Geographic and crochet a pair of bunny slippers instead.
9. Take time to enjoy yourself. Go with the flow, balance some rocks, don’t plan every minute and hope that adventure finds you.
10. And lastly, sometimes your soulmate might actually be your friend. There are thoughts you can only share with friends, there are things you can only do with friends and there are times that the only people you can count on are your friends. 

Photo Credit – Julianna Large / the rock the camera sat on

This Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for Jules. We’re new friends, and I’m a shy person, so it was really nice to have the opportunity to get to know her better in a one-on-one setting. 40-year friendships don’t just materialize, you have to invest in them. So Jules, here’s to a long and healthy friendship!

8 Limbs of Yoga – The Basics

The Yoga Sutra is a fundamental guide for living with a cultivated body, mind, and spiritual awareness, written in India between 200 B.C and 200 A.D. by physician, Pantajali. This ancient text outlines the eightfold path, called ashtanga, which literally means “eight limbs” (ashta=eight, anga=limb)

These eight steps act as guidelines toward living a meaningful and purposeful life. They serve as a prescription for moral and ethical conduct and self-discipline; they direct attention toward one’s health; and they help us to acknowledge the spiritual aspects of our nature.

Source: Ayuh Yoga

Eventually, I will go into more detail about what each of these limbs means. In the meantime here is the lowdown on the 8 limbs at their most basic analysis.

1. Yama – Self-restraints (how we morally interact with each other)

• Ahimsa: Nonviolence
• Satya: Truthfulness
• Asteya: Nontheft
• Brahmacharya: Nonlust
• Aparigraha: No greed 

2. Niyama – Self-restraints (how we morally interact with ourselves)

• Saucha: Cleanliness
• Santosa: Contentment
• Tapas: Sustained practice
• Svadhyaya: Self study
• Isvara pranidhana: Dedication

3. Asana – Practice of yoga postures and movements, control of body

4. Pranayama – Practice of breathing exercises and techniques, control of breath and life force

5. Pratyahara – Practice of bringing the awareness to reside deep within oneself, control of senses

6. Dharana – Concentration and steadying of the mind free of external (noises) or internal (useless thoughts) distractions.

7. Dhyana – Meditation

8. Samadhi – Bliss, aka: enlightenment.

These eight steps of yoga interact and intertwine with one another, like branches on a tree, and guide along the pathway to attain of physical, ethical, emotional, and psycho-spiritual health. Yoga allows the natural state of total health and integration in each of us to become a reality.

-XOXO-

Yellow

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

Yellow is related to the left or logic side of the brain. It stimulates our mental faculties, creates mental agility and perception, and inspires original thought and inquisitiveness. Yellow is uplifting and illuminating, offering hope, happiness, cheerfulness and fun.

Follow my Yellow board on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Floral Granny Square Blanket

I used to nanny for my cousins’ baby girl. We used to have so much fun together and I know those memories will always be special to me. Sadly they just moved away. Before they left I gave Harper a first birthday gift, this floral granny square blanket.

I used Lion Brand Baby’s First yarn in Honey Bee, Cotton Ball, Twinkle Toes, Fairy Tale, Beanstalk and Sea Sprite and an N hook. The free chart and pattern are below.

Using Yarn A make a magic loop.

Round 1 – Chain 3 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc into loop, ss into the top of the beginning ch-3 to join. [12 dc] Fasten off.

Round 2 – Join Yan B in any dc. *ch 3, 5 dc into next dc, chain 3, ss into each of the next 2 dc; repeat from * twice more ch 3, 5 dc into next dc, ch 3, slip stitch into next dc [4 5-dc groups, 8 ch-3] Fasten off.

Round 3 – Join Yarn C in the center dc of any 5-dc group, ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc into the same dc, ch 3, skip 2 dc and ch-3, dc into the space between 2 dc of round 1 (below 2 ss of Round 2), ch 3, skip ch-3 and 2 dc, *5 dc into the next dc, ch 3, skip 2 dc and ch-3, dc into the space between 2 dc of Round 1 (below 2 ss of Round 2), ch 3, skip ch-3 and 2 dc; repeat from * twice more, ss to the top of the beginning ch-3 to join. [4 5-dc groups, 4 dc, 8 ch-3 spaces] Fasten off.

Round 4 – Working into the back loops only, join Yarn D in the first dc of any 5-dc group, *skip the next dc, 7 dc into the next dc, skip the next dc, ss into the next dc, skip ch-3, 7 dc into the next dc, skip ch-3, ss into the next dc; repeat from * 3 more times. Fasten off.

Round 5 – Working into the back loops only, join Yarn E in the 4th dc of any corner 7-dc group, ch 3 (counts as one dc), 4 dc into same dc, *dc into next 2 dc, ch 3, dc into 3rd dc of the next 7-dc group, dc into next 2 dc, ch 3, dc into 2nd double crochet of the next corner 7-dc groups, dc into next dc, 5 dc into next dc; repeat from * twice more, dc into next 2-dc, ch 3, dc into next 2 dc, ch 3, dc into 2nd dc of the next 7-dc group, dc into next dc, ss to top of ch-3 to join. Fasten off.

Make as many granny squares as your project requires (I made 20). I also did a Round 6 in Yarn E making single crochets all the way around with 5 in the corner to really square it up. I attached the square by single crocheting through the back loop only.

100 LEGAL Sources for Free Books Online

The Classics

Browse works by Mark Twain, Joseph Conrad and other famous authors here.

1. Classic Bookshelf: This site has put classic novels online, from Charles Dickens to Charlotte Bronte.
2. The Online Books Page: The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia hosts this book search and database.
3. Project Gutenberg: This famous site has over 27,000 free books online.
4. Page by Page Books: Find books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells, as well as speeches from George W. Bush on this site.
5. Classic Book Library: Genres here include historical fiction, history, science fiction, mystery, romance and children’s literature, but they’re all classics.
6. Classic Reader: Here you can read Shakespeare, young adult fiction and more.
7. Read Print: From George Orwell to Alexandre Dumas to George Eliot to Charles Darwin, this online library is stocked with the best classics.
8. Planet eBook: Download free classic literature titles here, from Dostoevsky to D.H. Lawrence to Joseph Conrad.
9. Bibliomania: This site has more than 2,000 classic texts, plus study guides and reference books.
10. Online Library of Literature: Find full and unabridged texts of classic literature, including the Bronte sisters, Mark Twain and more.
11. Bartleby: Bartleby has much more than just the classics, but its collection of anthologies and other important novels made it famous.
12. Fiction.us: Fiction.us has a huge selection of novels, including works by Lewis Carroll, Willa Cather, Sherwood Anderson, Flaubert, George Eliot, F. Scott Fitzgerald and others.
13. Free Classic Literature: Find British authors like Shakespeare and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, plus other authors like Jules Verne, Mark Twain, and more.

Textbooks

If you don’t absolutely need to pay for your textbooks, save yourself a few hundred dollars by reviewing these sites.

1. Textbook Revolution: Find biology, business, engineering, mathematics and world history textbooks here.
2. Wikibooks: From cookbooks (handy for those enrolled in online bachelor’s degree programs for culinary arts!) to the computing department, find instructional and educational materials here.
3. Online Medical Textbooks: Find books about plastic surgery, anatomy and more here.
4. Online Science and Math Textbooks: Access biochemistry, chemistry, aeronautics, medical manuals and other textbooks here.
5. MIT Open Courseware Supplemental Resources: Find free videos, textbooks and more on the subjects of mechanical engineering, mathematics, chemistry and more.
6. Flat World Knowledge: This innovative site has created an open college textbooks platform that will launch in January 2009.
7. Free Business Textbooks: Find free books to go along with accounting, economics and other business classes.
8. Light and Matter: Here you can access open source physics textbooks.
9. eMedicine: This project from WebMD is continuously updated and has articles and references on surgery, pediatrics and more.

Math and Science

Turn to this list to find books about math, science, engineering and technology.

1. FullBooks.com: This site has “thousands of full-text free books,” including a large amount of scientific essays and books.
2. Free online textbooks, lecture notes, tutorials and videos on mathematics: NYU links to several free resources for math students, even those outside of New York!
3. Online Mathematics Texts: Here you can find online textbooks like Elementary Linear Algebra and Complex Variables.
4. Science and Engineering Books for free download: These books range in topics from nanotechnology to compressible flow.
5. FreeScience.info: Find over 1800 math, engineering and science books here.
6. Free Tech Books: Computer programmers and computer science enthusiasts can find helpful books here.

Children’s Books

Even children’s books are now available online. Find illustrated books, chapter books and more.

1. byGosh: Find free illustrated children’s books and stories here.
2. Munseys: Munseys has nearly 2,000 children’s titles, plus books about religion, biographies and more.
3. International Children’s Digital Library: Find award-winning books and search by categories like age group, make believe books, true books or picture books.
4. Lookybook: Access children’s picture books here.

Philosophy and Religion

For books about philosophy and religion, check out these websites.

1. Bored.com: Bored.com has music ebooks, cooking ebooks, and over 150 philosophy titles and over 1,000 religion titles.
2. Ideology.us: Here you’ll find works by Rene Descartes, Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, David Hume and others.
3. Free Books on Yoga, Religion and Philosophy: Recent uploads to this site include Practical Lessons in Yoga andPhilosophy of Dreams.
4. Religion eBooks: Read books about the Bible, Christian books, and more. This is especially useful for those pursuing online bachelor’s degrees in Christian Studies.

Plays

From Shakespeare to George Bernard Shaw to more contemporary playwrights, visit these sites.

1. ReadBookOnline.net: Here you can read plays by Chekhov, Thomas Hardy, Ben Jonson, Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe and others.
2. Plays: Read Pygmalion, Uncle Vanya or The Playboy of the Western World here.
3. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: MIT inMassachusetts has made available all of Shakespeare’s comedies, tragedies, and histories.
4. Plays Online: This site catalogs “all the plays [they] know about that are available in full text versions online for free.”
5. ProPlay: This site has children’s plays, comedies, dramas and musicals.

Modern Fiction, Fantasy and Romance

These websites boast collections of graphic novels, romance novels, fantasy books and more.

1. Public Bookshelf: Find romance novels, mysteries and more.
2. The Internet Book Database of Fiction: This forum features fantasy and graphic novels, anime, J.K. Rowling and more.
3. Free Online Novels: Here you can find Christian novels, fantasy and graphic novels, adventure books, horror books and more.
4. Foxglove: This British site has free novels, satire and short stories.
5. Baen Free Library: Find books by Scott Gier, Keith Laumer and others.
6. The Road to Romance: This website has books by Patricia Cornwell and other romance novelists.
7. Get Free Ebooks: This site’s largest collection includes fiction books.
8. John T. Cullen: Read short stories from John T. Cullen here.
9. SF and Fantasy Books Online: Books here include Arabian Nights, Aesop’s Fables and more.
10. Free Novels Online and Free Online Cyber-Books: This list contains mostly fantasy books.

Foreign Language

For books in a foreign language like French, Spanish and even Romanian, look here.

1. Project Laurens Jz Coster: Find Dutch literature here.
2. ATHENA Textes Francais: Search by author’s name, French books, or books written by other authors but translated into French.
3. Liber Liber: Download Italian books here. Browse by author, title, or subject.
4. Biblioteca romaneasca: Find Romanian books on this site.
5. Bibliolteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes: Look up authors to find a catalog of their available works on this Spanish site.
6. KEIMENA: This page is entirely in Greek, but if you’re looking for modern Greek literature, this is the place to access books online.
7. Proyecto Cervantes: Texas A&M’s Proyecto Cervantes has cataloged Cervantes’ work online.
8. Corpus Scriptorum Latinorum: Access many Latin texts here.
9. Project Runeberg: Find Scandinavian literature online here.
10. Italian Women Writers: This site provides information about Italian women authors and features full-text titles too.
11. Biblioteca Valenciana: Register to use this database of Catalan and Valencian books.
12. Ketab Farsi: Access literature and publications in Farsi from this site.
13. Afghanistan Digital Library: Powered by NYU, the Afghanistan Digital Library has works published between 1870 and 1930.
14. CELT: CELT stands for “the Corpus of Electronic Texts” features important historical literature and documents.
15. Projekt Gutenberg-DE: This easy-to-use database of German language texts lets you search by genres and author.

History and Culture

Refresh your memory of world history, the classics and U.S. history here.

1. LibriVox: LibriVox has a good selection of historical fiction.
2. The Perseus Project: Tufts’ Perseus Digital Library features titles from Ancient Rome and Greece, published in English and original languages.
3. Access Genealogy: Find literature about Native American history, the Scotch-Irish immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, and more.
4. Free History Books: This collection features U.S. history books, including works by Paul Jennings, Sarah Morgan Dawson, Josiah Quincy and others.
5. Most Popular History Books: Free titles include Seven Days and Seven Nights by Alexander Szegedy and Autobiography of a Female Slave by Martha G. Browne.

Rare Books

Look for rare books online here.

1. Questia: Questia has 5,000 books available for free, including rare books and classics.
2. JR’s Rare Books and Commentary: Check this site for PDF versions of some rare books.

Arts and Entertainment

This list features books about celebrities, movies, fashion and more.

1. Books-On-Line: This large collection includes movie scripts, newer works, cookbooks and more.
2. Chest of Books: This site has a wide range of free books, including gardening and cooking books, home improvement books, craft and hobby books, art books and more.
3. Free e-Books: Find titles related to beauty and fashion, games, health, drama and more.
4. 2020ok: Categories here include art, graphic design, performing arts, ethnic and national, careers, business and a lot more.
5. Free Art Books: Find artist books and art books in PDF format here.
6. Free Web design books: OnlineComputerBooks.com directs you to free web design books.
7. Free Music Books: Find sheet music, lyrics and books about music here.
8. Free Fashion Books: Costume and fashion books are linked to the Google Books page.

Mystery

Here you can find mystery books from Sherlock Holmes to more contemporary authors.

1. MysteryNet: Read free short mystery stories on this site.
2. TopMystery.com: Read books by Edgar Allan Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, GK Chesterton and other mystery writers here.
3. Mystery Books: Read books by Sue Grafton and others.

Poetry

These poetry sites have works by Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe and others.

1. The Literature Network: This site features forums, a copy of The King James Bible, and over 3,000 short stories and poems.
2. Poetry: This list includes “The Raven,” “O Captain! My Captain!” and “The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde.”
3. Poem Hunter: Find free poems, lyrics and quotations on this site.
4. Famous Poetry Online: Read limericks, love poetry, and poems by Robert Browning, Emily Dickinson, John Donne, Lord Byron and others.
5. Google Poetry: Google Books has a large selection of poetry, from The Canterbury Tales to Beowulf to Walt Whitman.
6. QuotesandPoem.com: Read poems by Maya Angelou, William Blake, Sylvia Plath and more.
7. CompleteClassics.com: Rudyard Kipling, Allen Ginsberg and Alfred Lord Tennyson are all featured here.
8. PinkPoem.com: On this site, you can download free poetry ebooks.

Miscellaneous

For even more free book sites, check out this list.

1. Banned Books: Here you can follow links of banned books to their full text online.
2. World eBook Library: This monstrous collection includes classics, encyclopedias, children’s books and a lot more.
3. DailyLit: DailyLit has everything from Moby Dick to the more recent phenomenon, Skinny Bitch.
4. A Celebration of Women Writers: The University of Pennsylvania’s page for women writers includes Newbery winners.
5. Free Online Novels: These novels are fully online and range from romance to religious fiction to historical fiction.
6. ManyBooks.net: Download mysteries and other books for your iPhone or eBook reader here.
7. Authorama: Books here are pulled from Google Books and more. You’ll find history books, novels and more.
8. Prize-winning books online: Use this directory to connect to full-text copies of Newbery winners, Nobel Prize winners and Pulitzer winners.

Source: Get (Almost) Any Book For Free: 100+ (Kosher) Sites Offering Great Literature for Download

Now get to reading, because you have a lot of work to do.

-XOXO-

45 Things I Learned From the Gilmore girls

I just finished re-watching my all time favorite television show, Gilmore girls. If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not know that Netflix added it to their library of television series. It took me about a month to watch all 7 series, take from that what you will. I kept a list of lessons I learned as I was watching. Enjoy as you let the wisdom wash over you because Gilmore girls is more than just a TV show, it’s a lifestyle.

1. You can’t always help who you love.
2. All bad girls wear red nail polish.
3. Childbirth is like doing the splits on a case of dynamite.
4. There’s no such thing as too much coffee
5. Bagels are like glue in your intestines. Ew.
6. Candy bars are chocolate covered death with a caramel surprise.
7. “Oi” is one of the funniest words in the world. Oi with the poodles already.
8. Wallowing is an important first step after a breakup.
9. Brazzelfrat and snicklefritz are seriously underused words.
10. The plural of “cul-de-sac” is “culs-de-sac.”
11. Snow is magical.
12. Every relationship is just a big honking leap of faith.
13. Being attracted to pie doesn’t mean you should date pie.
14. Ethics are highly subjective and completely overrated.
15. A banana eating contest isn’t always about eating a banana.
16.  It’s much better to have a haunted leg than a cold.
17. If you’re frustrated with someone, just push them in a lake.
18. Once your heart is involved, it all comes out in moron.
19. Rich people have hilarious sock drawers.
20. Mondays are bad, but they come around eventually.
21. Ladies don’t even look at puddles.
22. All anyone wants is to find a nice person to hang out with ’til we drop dead. It’s not too much to ask!
23. Smart girls are mean.
24. Always make friends with the girls who have the emergency pop-tarts.
25. Answer the pepperoni.
26. You can’t watch “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” without massive amounts of candy.
27. Cooper Boom is a phrase used to speed people up.
28. Ladies don’t do anything for themselves.
29. Kids always have jam on their hands, even if there isn’t any jam in the house.
30. It’s good to have choices when deciding what to do with your life.
31. Booze is grown-up milk and cookies.
32. Almost anything can be “dirty.”
33. Always carry a book.
34. It’s impossible to not become your mother.
35. Important decisions should be made with pro/con lists.
36. Stay away from windows when drinking.
37. The difference between cows and humans is hay.
38. Fries are the devil’s starchy fingers.
39. A “kropog” is a unit of distance not volume.
40. All grown-up women own a Hello Kitty waffle iron.
41. Waffle is a good modeling name if you’re from Belguim.
42. College is good for the skin.
43. When you’re dating someone, never dress weather appropriate.
44. If you think your eye is swelling, maybe your face is shrinking.
45. Mexican food makes good hangover food.

-XOXO-

What are your favorite Gilmore girl lessons?

Blueberry Muffins!

I’ve been baking a long time and have made plenty of mistakes. When I first started baking I thought 1 1/4 cup meant a single 1/4 cup rather than 1 AND 1/4 cup. Those cookies were… fine… Once I mistook the ingredients “an egg” to say “8 eggs.” I was also tripling the recipe to make enough for an event and it wasn’t until I cracked the 9th shell that I realized how insane it was the I needed 2 dozen eggs. But these blueberry muffins are fool proof. They are scrumptious and simple to make and they have blueberries in them so they’re healthy right?

Preheat oven to 385 degrees. In a large bowl mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Set aside. In another large bowl whisk together sugar, oil, cap-ful of vanilla, egg, and yogurt. Add the dry ingredients and stir to a count of ten.

Add blueberries, reserving 1/2 cup, to mixture and stir 3 times.

Add mixture to well-buttered muffin pans by 1/3 cupful. Sprinkle remaining berries on top and press down lightly. Sprinkle Turbinado (or brown) sugar over top.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean.Allow to cool completely before removal.

Serve immediately with butter.

Warm up later in the toaster oven.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• A heavy pinch of salt
• A dash of nutmeg
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 generous cup plain, unflavored yogurt (more if you want)
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• A capful vanilla extract
• Softened butter for greasing muffin tins
• Turbinado sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 385 degrees
2. In a large bowl mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. In another large bowl whisk together sugar, oil, cap-ful of vanilla, egg, and yogurt. 
4. Add the dry ingredients and stir to a count of ten.
5. Add blueberries, reserving 1/2 cup, to mixture and stir 3 times.
6. Add mixture to well-buttered muffin pans by 1/3 cupful.
7. Sprinkle remaining berries on top and press down lightly.
8. Sprinkle Turbinado (or brown) sugar over top.
9. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean.
10. Allow to cool completely before removal.

-XOXO-

30 Day Self Improvement Challenge

Swapping your closet can be exhausting, but going from summer to fall is one of the best times of the year. You get to do away with your flimsy, sticky tube tops that offer no support or protection and snuggle into cozy sweaters and things that make you feel warm and safe. And as an added bonus you never know what you’ll find from last year: a 20, your favorite lip gloss, an unopened lollipop, or a list of goals you made last fall.

My plan with this list was to discover characteristics within myself that I wanted to improve, work on these individually for 30 days (according to science, it takes 30 consecutive days to form a habit) each and discover an improved version of myself in about months. The reality was that I lost the list in my move to Portland and forgot all about my self-improvement goals. But it’s never too late to start again so now I’m sharing my list with you.

 “Instead of complaining that the rose bush is full of thorns, be happy the thorn bush has roses.” ~Buddhist Proverb

We all complain. Even if you argue that you are the happiest person in the world, you still complain sometimes. Sometimes we complain without even realizing it, but rarely is it ever helpful. Instead of complaining I will…

• change the way I think about situations by seeing the positive instead of the negative.
• practice yoga in order to become more mindful.
• train myself to be less judgmental.
• keep a list of things I am grateful for.
• avoid fueling other people who are on the complain train by changing the subject or asking them to stop.
• accept the situation or change the situation.
• do more of what makes me happy and fulfilled and less of what makes me complain.
• take care of myself so I am better equipped to handle difficult situations.

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”

~ Henry James

Kindness is one of the simplest thing to give to another person, but it’s easy to get wrapped up in ourselves and forget about it. Or maybe we don’t know how to be kind:

• Express gratitude to the people around you for things they do.
• Replace judgement with understanding.
• Replace un-constructive criticism with encouragement and constructive criticism.
• Just be there for someone – listen, hug, sit with them.
• Offer to help someone practically with a household chore, when they’re moving, or when they’re carrying something heavy.
• Remember the little things: little notes, letting someone merge into your lane while driving, holding the door for someone, helping someone with directions if they seem lost, a surprise gift.
• Be kinder towards yourself.

 “No one has ever become poor by giving.” 

~ Anne Frank

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the day to day life but it’s important to remember the less fortunate. I cannot volunteer every day for 21 days but my goal is to volunteer with an organization I feel passionate about once a week and for the remaining days be mindful of the important people in my life and think about how I can be there for them.

 “Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.”

~ Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield

We are all familiar with the procrastination phenomenon: you have a deadline but instead are squandering your precious time on social media and cat videos. Break the cycle and get s**t done:

• Organize your tasks into smaller steps that are more easily managed.
• Change your environment to be more productive.
• Create a detailed timeline with deadlines for each task to be completed by.
• Eliminate the temptation of your favorite procrastination.
• Surround yourself with inspiring people who take action.
• Inform others of your goals, they are bound to ask about your progress when they see you.
• Get advice from those who have already achieved their goals.
• Revisit your goals to be sure they are still what you want.
• Don’t make it complicated, there is no perfect time to do something.
• Just do it – strategizing, planning and hypothesizing should not become your newest form of procrastination.

“Acceptance is such an important commodity, some have called it the first law of personal growth.”

~ Peter McWilliams

In dealing with situation and other people’s actions, we have 3 options: cut them out of our life, be frustrated or accept and embrace it. The only empowering option is acceptance. Why?

• Life is too short for frustration.
• You are forced to find the good. 
• It creates realistic expectations for the future.
• You likely do things that are just as frustrating.
• It strengthens your relationships.

“As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.”

~ Robin S. Sharma

Your comfort zone may make you feel snug and safe but the boundaries leave little room for personal growth. Over time this once protective blanket may feel more like a straight jacket trapping you with boredom and fear. Stretch your zone a little and invite a little excitement and adventure in.

• Make a fool out of yourself without fear of what others think.
• Try something new, the worst that can happen is you fail.
• Take a minute to discover some of the subtle fears that plague you every day and face them.
• Become comfortable taking risks (not to be confused with being reckless). Your comfort zone is predictable to stretch it you have to do the unexpected.
• Find comfort in the unknown.

-XOXO-

What’s on your list?

9 Awesome Fitness and Nutrition Apps

I am obsessed with my iPhone. I have my phone with me at all times to check in on my Etsy shop, to keep up with my friends on social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) and to research new project ideas on Pinterest. Come to think about it… this might not be healthy… I probably need help… Well I’ll worry about that later.

I am always looking for new apps to help me with the simplest of tasks. With that said, my iPhone has become my most reliable workout buddy. Here are some of my favorite apps for gym and home workouts.

Free Fitness

• Bit Timer is a great app for strength training intervals. You can set the work time, rest time and the number of intervals you wish to repeat. Play your get pumped music in the background and the app will alert you when it’s time to start and end.
• Gymboss allows you to create a timer with intervals and rounds. It also has preset programs and a basic stop watch.
• Nike Training Club comes with various workouts and workout programs at the beginner, intermediate or advanced level. Use it for cardio, strength or a combo and set goals for toning, leaning out, getting strong or targeting certain areas. You can preset the amount of time and play your own music in the background.
• Map My Run means you no longer have to estimate how far you’ve run, this app uses GPS to actually track them. You can change your activity to bike, run, walk and even hike. You can also create pre-made routes to make sure you’re covering the proper distance to meet your goals. Plus you can post your runs to Facebook and Twitter and use the Map My Run community to keep you motivated!
• Fitness Pro is a great app for fitness junkies and newbies alike. It’s a great guide to new exercises and proper use of gym equipment. It’s not very useful at home but great for the gym.

Paid Fitness

• Map My Run also has an MVP paid option which gives you coaching so I’m listing it a second time.
• 10k Pro is a couch to 10k program that has preset goals for 30 days. You begin each day and follow the instructions for a certain amount of time. These instructions are spoken to you as you go along so there’s no need to keep an eye on the time. Fitnesity also has apps with a similar formate for situps, squats, arms, pushups, abs, pullups, cardio etc.
• Yoga Studio offers classes for all levels and in varying lengths of time. You can specify the ambient sound and leanr about 250 different poses.

Free Nutrition

• Lose It! is a food journal app to track how many calories are going in and how many are going out.
• Fooducate helps you out when shopping for food. Use the scanner to scan the barcode of a product and the app assigns a grade based on health.

Give these apps a try and let me know what you think in the comments below.

-XOXO-

Baby Animals

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

I probably don’t need to explain to you the value of baby animals because anyone with a beating heart can see just how adorable they are. I thought I’d make a list of what baby animals are called based on species because learning things is fun! You can find out more about each of these species on Zooborns.

Baby Name	Animal
Antling	Ant
Baby	Ape, Aye-aye, Bonobo, Lemur
Calf	Aardvark, Addax, Antelope, Bison/Buffalo, Bongo, Camel, Caribou, Cattle, Dolphin, Elephant, Elk, Giraffe, Gnu, Hippopotamus, Manatee, Moose, Porpoise, Reindeer, Rhinoceros, Whale, Yak
Caterpillar	Butterfly
Cheeper	Grouse, Partirdge
Chick	Most Birds: Chicken, Crane, Crow, Dove, Emu, Falcon, Finch, Grouse, Gull, Heron, Hummingbird, Jay, Lark, Magpie, Nightingale, Ostrich, Parrot, Penguin, Pheasant, Quail, Woodpecker, Wren
Colt	Donkey, Zebra
Cria	Alpaca, Llama
Cub	Aardvark, Badger Bear, Bobcat, Cheetah, Fox, Hyena, Leopard, Panda, Racoon, Tiger, Walrus, Woodchuck
Cygnet, Flapper	Swan
Duckling	Duck
Eaglet	Eagle
Ephyna	Jellyfish
Eyas	Hawk
Farrow, Shoat	Boar, Hog, Pig
Fawn	Caribou, Deer, Pronghorn
Fledgling	Eagle, Owl
Foal	Donkey, Horse, Mule, Zebra
Fry, Fingerling	Fish, Trout
Gosling	Goose
Hatchling	Alligator, Bird, Crocodile, Dinosaur, Emu, Snake, Squid, Turtle
Infant	Aye-aye, Baboon, Gorilla, Lemur, Monkey
Joey	Kangaroo, Koala, Opossum, Possum, Wallaby, Wombat
Kid, Billy	Goat
Kit	Badger, Ferret, Fox, Muskrat, Skunk, Squirrel, Weasel, Woodchuck
Kitten	Binturong/Bearcat, Bobcat, Cat, Mouse, Rat, Serval, Squirrel
Lamb, Lambkin, Cosset	Sheep
Larva	Bee, Clam, Gnat, Hornet, Sand Dollar, Sea Urchin, Termite, Wasp, Yellow Jacket
Leveret, Bunny	Hare, Rabbit
Maggot	Fly
Nymph	Cicada, Cockroach, Grasshopper, Louse, Mosquito
Owlet	Owl
Piglet	Boar, Guinea Pig, Hedgehog, Hog, Pig
Pinkie	Mouse, Rat
Polliwog, Froglet	Frog
Porcupette	Porcupine
Poult	Grouse, Turkey
Puggle	Echidna, Platypus
Pup	Agouti, Anteater, Armallio, Bat, Bearcat/Binturong, Coyote, Dog, Dolphin, Fox, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Hedgehog, Hound, Mole, Mouse, Otter, Prairie Dog, Rat, Seal, Shark, Squirrel, Walrus, Wolf
Snakelet, Neonate	Snake
Spat	Oyster
Spiderling	Spider
Squab	Dove, Pidgeon
Squeeler	Grouse
Stot	Ox
Tadpole	Frog, Toad
Whelp	Coyote, Otter, Tiger, Wolf
Wriggler, Tumbler	Mosquito

Follow my baby animals board on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a terrific Tuesday!

-XOXO-

Earth Angel: Make-Up

I am completely surprised by what I have learned today. The cosmetic industry is shockingly unregulated to the point that consumers are practically being used as test subjects. Cosmetic manufacturers can put just about anything into their products regardless of health or safety concerns. Though there isn’t always definitive evidence that a given chemical can cause adverse health affects, the fact that so few have been studied for safety is of significant concern. Plus, there’s the effect over time of all these chemicals we’re applying to our bodies to consider.

http://fotogrph.com/cosmetics-379547934/

To protect your body and reduce your impact on the environment, make sure to follow these guidelines.

Labels are not to be trusted and are no indicator of safety. 
Words like “natural” and “hypoallergenic” may look appealing but both have practically no meaning in the world of cosmetics. “Natural” includes products which may contain natural ingredients but there are very likely synthetic harmful ingredients. “Hypoallergenic” simply means chemicals, which are irritants have been removed.

Scrutinize ingredients list.
It’s easier than ever to check the safety of over 7,500 products using the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep online database. There’s even an app for that.

Skin Deep App

Check companies that have made a commitment to safe products.
The Compact for Safe Ingredients is a pledge to not use 450 unsafe ingredients. Find out who has signed the compact here. View the Story of Cosmetics video below.

“Best Option” Cosmetics Companies
The following companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and either use organic ingredients or are members of Green America’s Green Business Network™.

• Canary Cosmetics — www.canarycosmetics.com
• EccoBella Botanicals — www.eccobella.com
• Evan’s Garden/Organic Beauty Inc. — www.evansgarden.com
• Honeybee Gardens, Inc. — www.honeybeegardens.com
• Saffron Rouge, Inc. — www.saffronrouge.com
• Sevi Cosmetics — www.sevikay.com
• Suncoat Products — www.suncoatproducts.com

-XOXO-

10 realizations that have changed the way I look at life

They say the key to being a writer is figuring out who you are, finding your voice. I’ve come to a kind of epiphany about life: you never can find yourself because you’re changing all the time. Every minute, every day, every experience is shaping your reality and your person. Finding your writing voice is the same, each piece you write allows you to grow. At least that’s what I see in my blogging experiment.

I like to think I have a unique voice, that I am funny and charming in my blog posts. I hope my readers perceive me that way. That’s why I’m so excited and nervous about participating in NaBloPoMo this month. In order to post something every day I need to write something every day. In order to write something every day, I need to have interesting things to write about. In order to have interesting things to write about I need to be interesting and I worry that I am not interesting. But this vulnerability is what makes NaBloPoMo simultaneously thrilling and crippling.

So I decided to examine my life, what have I learned in my 24 years that might be of interest and might be mistaken for life lessons?

1. Accept responsibility – it has taken me 24 years to really appreciate what it means to make a mistake AND accept that I did something wrong, but I finally discovered that by taking responsibility for my actions, I learn more about how to act in the future.
2. Look at things from another perspective – I have been known to be impatient, my schedule and my wants and needs often were the only things on my radar. By taking a step back and seeing the situation from another point of view I can let go of less important wants while making my needs known.
3. Listen – it turns out that listening is not just waiting for the other person to stop talking so I can say what I’ve been thinking about the whole time they’ve been speaking. Listening is a learned skill in which you don’t just hear what is being said, you also comprehend and process it.
4. Question everything – gullibility is possibly one of my more endearing traits but it is blind acceptance of information. Ignorance is not bliss: always check facts and research topics before believing them.
5. Every moment is an opportunity – carpe diem (or YOLO if you’re a stupid person) is a great motto. Don’t let opportunities pass you by, because although life is the longest thing you’ll ever experience, it goes by fast.
6. You are in control – my parents have always given me excellent guidance but at a certain point you can’t live your life based on someone else’s idea of what your life should be. Surround yourself with people who will guide and advise you but give yourself permission to make the final decision.
7. Forgive and let go – Probably the hardest lesson I’ve learned: the only person I can control is myself. When someone slights me, whether it’s big or small, I forgive them and forget. Don’t let someone live rent free in your head.
8. Don’t define your limits – You (like the limit of f(x) = |x|/x as x approaches 0) are limitless (the limit doesn’t exist, is calculus humor still relevant?) You can never stop growing in your career, in your spirituality, in your sexuality, in your relationships, in yourself.
9. Practice make perfect – a horrible cliche, I know, but it’s true, you cannot become a master without trying something over and over again. Period.
10. Be thankful – there will always be people who have more than you and there will always be people who have less than you. Focus on what you have and give thanks.

-xoxo-

What observations have you made about life that help you day to day?

NaBloPoMo

I seem to be just in time to participate in National Blog Post Month in which bloggers are challenged to post something new every day throughout the month of November. I’m excited to test my limits and try to get into the blogging spirit this month so it looks like you’ll be hearing a lot more from me.

I’m hoping I can commit to such a lofty goal (especially since I’ve barely committed to blogging once each week). I am easily distracted by shiny social media whenever I am sitting at the computer, so giving myself clear guidelines will help me focus back into the schedule I once kept like clockwork. Wish me luck!

It’s late on a Saturday now. And I’m not sure I’ve EVER posted on a Saturday, so I’m at a loss for what to write. Here’s a play-by-play of my day. I was called off work due to weather and a slow day at the restaurant so I ended up spending my day finishing a pair of crocheted teal and tan bunny slippers that I recently sold on my Etsy store. 

While crocheting I like to have a TV show playing in the background. My most recent series is The Carrie Diaries. I thought it was going to be a dumb attempt to stretch the story of Sex and the City but I actually am really enjoying watching it.

I got a little restless so I rode my bike to the park where my boyfriend, Dana, plays bike polo. If you don’t know much about bike polo, I would describe it as a cross between equestrian polo and roller hockey. Two teams of three bike-riding players try to score goals using mallets. It’s very exciting to watch, I have not participated. It was also draft night for Portland Bike Polo Bench League. I was thoroughly entertained hanging out with these passionate players while they took turns picking players for each of the 4 teams (Dana was one of the captains). 

That’s when I remembered, “It’s the first of November! I was gonna do that blog thing and I’m already failing.” And now you’re all caught up. Happy (late) Halloween!

Exercise for Beginners

Are you ready to start exercising regularly? Or maybe you’ve fallen off your exercise plan and need a boost getting back to the gym. Follow this 20 day sequence to help you start, or start again. Starting with day 1, only progress to the next day once you complete the previous. If you miss a day return the the day before you missed.

Credit: downtown.tumblr.com

Things to remember

• Don’t skip your break days: they are important to protect your muscles.
• Stretch properly beforehand.
• Keep yourself hydrated.
• Push yourself but not to the point of injury. Be mindful of your body.
• Have fun!

Workout Terms Glossary

Jumping Jacks
Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

Leg Lift/Raise

Lay down on your side, hip on the floor, and prop yourself up on your forearm. Lift your top leg straight up into the air. Lower it back down without touching your bottom leg. Repeat.

Lunge

Take a big step forward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Crunch

Lay flat on your back. Place your hands behind your head, and your feet flat on the floor. Pull your shoulders away from the mat. Make sure you don’t pull your head forward with your arms but rather keep your gaze upward and use your hand for neck support only. Lower yourself back to the mat.

Sit-ups

Start by lying on your back on the floor, cross your arms over your chest or place hands behind head or neck. With feet flat against the floor and knees bent, lift upper and lower vertebrae from the floor. Lower back to the floor with control. That’s one rep.

Doors

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

When ever one door closes another one opens.

Doors can represent many things, hope, opportunity, transition from one state or position to another and metamorphosis. 

• In Christian traditions the three doors of a cathedral or church symbolize faith, hope and chairty. 
• In Hinduism divinities are carved on door jambs to indicate the deity through which man enters the Supreme Presence. 
• Janus is the Roman god of doorways and hold the key to the power of opening and closing. 
• Zodiacal symbolism holds Cancer, the sign of the summer solstice, as the door of men and represents the dying power and descent of the sun. Capricorn, the sign of the winter solstice, is the door of gods, and represent the ascent and rising power of the sun.
• The door of an Egyptian temple was seen as giving access to the “Amenta, where the soul was united with the immortal spirit and where, from then on, it remained.”
• The Sumerian goddess Inanna’s passed through seven doors to arrive before the seven judges of the under world
• Masonic lodges contain three doors, which represent the qualities acquired successively through the stages crossed: discrimination, absence of desires, self-control.

Follow Maggie Haseman’s board Favorite Things – Doorbells on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a terrific Tuesday!

DIY Yoga Mat Tote

I’ve been going a little yarn crazy recently. In the past month I finished two baby blankets, a full-sized blanket, a dog sweater, two hats, three ear warmers, two pairs of bunny slippers, and two yoga mat totes. I suppose the falling leaves, the cooler weather and the cinnamon scent in the air put me in a cozy, crafty mood.

This is a guide for you to make a yoga mat tote for yourself. I also sell them on Etsy if you are not familiar with crochet or don’t have the time.

I made one for myself…

…and one for my roommate, Alyssa…

We recently started going to yoga classes together so it’s only fitting that we have matching totes.

Material:

• G-hook
• Worsted Weight (4) Yarn
• Yarn Needle

Stitches:

• Double Crochet
• Slip Stitch
• Chain Stitch
• Single Crochet

Note: after every round do another round of slip stitches to help the tote bag keep it’s shape and give it a bit more strength.

Pattern:

Drawstring

Slip knot, then chain 40. Fasten off. Tie on pompoms if desired

Round Base

Slip knot then chain 4, join to first chain with a slip stitch.

Round 1 – Chain 3 (counts as one double crochet), 19 dc into center of loop. ss into top of chain 3. You should have a total of 20 stitches.

Round 2 – Chain 3, *2 dc into next stitch, 1 dc into next stitch, repeat from * ss into top of chain 3. You should have 30 stitches.

Round 3 – Chain 3, *2 dc into next stitch, 1 dc into next stitch, repeat from * ss into top of chain 3. You should have 45 stitches.

Round 4 – Chain 1, 1 single crochet into each stitch, ss into top of chain 1.

Tote Body

Round 5-28 – Chain 3, 1 dc into each stitch, ss into top of chain 3.

Top

Round 29 – Chain 1, 1 sc into each stitch, ss into top of chain 1.

Round 30 – Chain 3, *dc2tog, dc into the next stitch, repeat from * ss into top of chain 3. You should have 30 stitches.

Round 31 – We want your drawstring to be on the opposite side of the bag from the seam. Hold the center of your draw string against the top of the previous rounds seam and do the following round around the drawstring (as if you are crocheting over ends). Chain 3, 1 dc into each of the next 13 stitches. When you reach the 14th stitch stop crocheting around the drawstring and dc into the next four stitches. On the 18th stitch pick up the drawstring from the opposite end and start crocheting around it again, dc into the next 12 stitches. Ss into the top of the chain 3 for a total of 30 dc around.

Round 32 and 33 – Chain 3, 1 dc into each stitch, ss into top of chain 3.

Strap

Slip knot, chain 62, *turn work, sc into 2nd chain from hook, sc into each stitch until the end* chain 1. Repeat between the *s for 4 or 5 rows, sew onto tote along the seam at about the 8th round and the 26th round.

For mine I was using up a bunch of yarn from my sc blanket. I was also figuring out the pattern. By the time I made Alyssa’s I had perfected the design (which I am sharing with you here). I recommend using one color for the rounds 1-8 and for rounds 26-33 and for the strap for a more cohesive design. Of course I always encourage taking creative liberty. That’s one of the many reasons DIY rocks, you can make it exactly fit your style and needs. Enjoy!

Red

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

This warm and positive color is associated with physical need and will to survive. Red is energizing, exciting emotions in us and motivating us to take action. It symbolizes the spirit of leadership, ambition and determination. It gives confidence to those who lack it. It stimulates passion in both love and revenge.

Follow my Red board on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a terrific Tuesday!

How to Wake up Early to Workout

Busy schedules sometimes mean waking up earlier just to get a workout in. I know it’s hard, it was hard for me to wake up early just to write about waking up early to workout. But there are some benefits to getting a workout in before you really start your day.

• Morning exercises “jump start” your metabolism and kick your body into overdrive, helping you burn more calories throughout the remainder of your day.
• Doing something good for your body in the morning energizes you for the day.
• Studies show that working out in the morning helps brain activity for four to ten hours after exercising. Harness your new super power toward good, not evil.
• Regular exercise leads to better sleep quality meaning you won’t need as much and it’ll gradually be easier to wake up earlier. You might not even need an alarm some days. It’s a cycle of good health.
• Keeping a consistent exercise schedule regulates your bodies endocrine system and circadian rhythm. This means your body will start to recognize a pattern. It won’t be confused by different wake times and will start to regulate various systems in your body.
• Working out in the morning leads to healthier diet choices throughout their day. Endorphins tend to suppress appetite.
• Exercising in the morning gives you an opportunity to plan your day, pray, or just be alone with your thoughts.
• If you “get it over with” in the morning, your fitness goals are less likely to slip through the cracks of a busy life.

I hope you’re convinced to give morning exercise a try. Here are some helpful tips to help you get up earlier and get moving.

If you’re running out of workout ideas, check out my printable workouts here.

Fall-ing for Autumn

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

Autumn Equinox

Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox. The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night.” At the fall and spring equinoxes the hours of daylight are equal to the hour of darkness. This happens because the Sun crosses the celestial equator. Autumn is a time of change as leaves change color, days grow shorter and temperature begin to drop.

Why do leaves change color? The bright pigments carotene (yellow) and anthocyanin (red) you see so vividly during the fall are actually present all year. They are simple masked by chlorophyll (green). When the temperature starts dropping, a barrier forms between the twigs of trees and the leaves preventing sugars from exiting and nutrients from entering the leaves. This results in the chlorophyll breaking down, leaving behind these other pigments.

Follow my Autumn board on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Gluten-ous

It’s time to get to the bottom of this gluten free business. It’s clear that it’s not just going to leave stage right. I’m finally going to investigate gluten and living gluten-free.

According to the Mayo Clinic “A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye).” The mayo clinic describes the purpose of a gluten-free diet as, “a treatment for celiac disease.”

Apparently Peter Gibson is the originator of the idea of gluten intolerance. He published a study in 2011 which found gluten to cause gastrointestinal distress in patients without celiac disease. This study was one of the strongest pieces of evidence to date that gluten intolerance is a condition.

Like any good scientist, Gibson was unsatisfied with these results and proceeded to conduct an even more rigorous study in 2013, where he found that subjects reportedly worsening gastrointestinal distress with each meal. Gluten wasn’t the cause, the cause was likely psychological and Gibson stated, “In contrast to our first study… we could find absolutely no specific response to gluten.”

Source: Gluten Free Club

It seems that going gluten-free is largely market driven and not based on any scientific evidence. Manufacturers, large and small, are jumping on the band wagon labeling products as gluten-free to appease the masses. But is it really good for us to adopt a diet sans gluten if celiac disease does not ail us?

Here’s my “professional” opinion: Of course you will feel better when you stop consuming all the pastries and cookies and crackers! It’s logic. Don’t replace these gluten-filled items with the gluten-free products that have come out. These are often even more processed and pumped with extra sugar and fat. If you HAVE to adopt a gluten-free diet, adopt a generally healthier diet as well. If you cook more at home using real ingredients, cutting out more processed foods, you will feel better! Regardless of the presence of gluten, so stop vilifying one food group… please.

Eat more vegetables and fruit. Eat more real ingredients and less processed items. Allow yourself a treat every once in a while. Donut, ice cream, whatever your vice is, everything in moderation.

Source: Flour Advisory Bureau

One good thing I’ve seen coming out of this fad is that gluten-free products are more easily available and less expensive for people who actually do have celiac disease. And that’s a win in my book.

Further reading

• Re: gluten elimination diets
• The dangers of going gluten-free – Maclean’s
• Gluten intolerance may not exist – Forbes
• The gluten free craze: Is it healthy? -The Wall Street Journal
• This gluten-free thing is a really overblown fad! – Huffington Post
• Just google gluten free pretty much every page that’s not trying to sell you something will tell you it’s not a real thing.

My Family

Today I want to express my love and gratitude to my supportive family. They’ve helped me through every stage of my life. Even now, when I’m so far away, I know that they are thinking of me and I am always thinking of them.

Old family photo – from left to right: Dad Charles, Me, Sister Erica, Mom Debbie

Thank you family!

Think about the individuals in your life. Who do you turn to for support? It’s never too late or too early to communicate how much you appreciate a person.

Treadmill Workout

Do you look at the treadmill and think, “Treadmill…? More like DREADmill,” and then laugh at your own cleverness? Do you fall into a mind-numbing boredom ball while using the conveyor belt of monotony? This high-intensity interval routine will challenge your body and keep you brain engaged, boosting your fitness level as the minutes fly by. Interval training is the best when it comes to cardio conditioning.

Find the downloadable pdf here, and discover literally dozens of downloadable workouts here. ❤

Hot Air Balloons

In an effort to add a little more color and beauty into the world, every week on Pinterest I pick one of my favorite things and create a a new board to house all the images I find. On Tuesdays I make a blog post devoted to the theme.

Learn about the history of hot air balloons on the National Balloon Museum’s website.

Follow my Hot Air Balloons board on Pinterest.//assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Mission Blue

Have you seen Mission Blue on Netflix yet? Go watch it, immediately. I loved it! Here’s a trailer:

Mission Blue is part oceanic road trip; part biography; part action adventure story. Fisher Stevens is our guide. His lifelong love for the ocean led him to produce the Academy Award winning film, The Cove, which focused on dolphin slaughter in Japan.

This film expands on the theme of The Cove, weaving legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle’s personal history with the bleak truth about what’s happening to our oceans. We follow Sylvia’s incredible and unique journey, from her childhood memories discovering and playing in the ocean as a young girl to her adult life as an ocean scientist and beyond.

Sylvia passionately believes that creating a global parks system for the ocean that she calls “Hope Spots” is the best way to restore the health of the ocean. As she travels to the Gulf of Mexico, the Galapagos Islands and the Coral Sea it becomes clear the challenges we face are truly daunting. As a witness to change over the past 60 years, Sylvia is leading the movement to restore the ocean to health before it’s too late.

The goals and passion for change presented in the film are as beautiful and haunting as the imagery. Mission Blue is an alert for all who are dependent on rainwater, clean air and weather cycles regulated by the ocean (yes, that includes you). As Sylvia says: “No blue; no green. No ocean; no us.”

Find out how you can help by visiting the website. Here’s a synopsis of the list on the Act Now page.

• Join the Mission Blue Movement.
• Reduce your carbon footprint.
• Inspire, educate and empower others.
• Use a sustainable seafood guide.
• Remember the 3 Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Everyone can make a difference! I’ve decided to stop eating fish. I realize now the hypocrisy of not eating turf meats for environmental reasons but continuing to eat surf meats. This will be a difficult change for me because sushi is my favorite food. But for me personally, I believe it is the right thing to do. What are you going to do?

Caprese Salad

Summer’s winding down which means an end to my all time favorite ingredient combination: tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and olive oil. Caprese means in the style of Capri, which is an island in west Italy in the bay of Naples.

It’s so easy to make too, just chop all the ingredients and mix together in a large bowl. I used garden tomatoes, mozzarella pearls and fresh basil from the farmer’s market.

For this meal I also added pasta and balsamic vinegar.

What’s your favorite Caprese dish? For more delicious ways to enjoy Caprese here’s a Buzzfeed list.

New Job

Today, I start training for my new position at the Courtyard Restaurant. That’s right! I am no longer going to greet you smiling at the door. I will soon be a server. Yay! Thanks Kennedy School and McMenamins for this opportunity!

Meditation

I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection. For a lot of this journey since I moved to Portland everything was new. I didn’t have a usual breakfast place or a bar that never disappoints. I didn’t have a hike I knew like the back of my hand. I had but one friend. It was exciting because everything was new. Any person I met had a story I hadn’t yet heard. Every restaurant I tried was an experiment. Every place I went, even going to Target, was an adventure. But slowly all these things fell into place. Some of the people I met became regulars in the sitcom that I sometimes view my life as. I started visiting certain restaurants regularly and stopped going to some entirely. I know the routes to get to all the important places I need to visit. All of this happened naturally, I didn’t even notice I was becoming a local (can I say that yet Portland gods? Please don’t strike me down!)

Source: Yellow Wood Design

And now that the novelty of my new hometown has worn off I’ve started reflecting on what I’ve learned. I moved halfway across the country with my best friend to a place I knew no one and had no job prospects. Not only that, I was across the Oregon border before I even knew where I was going to be living! Was this half-made plan everything I dreamed it would be?

So, I’ve spent a lot of my free time thinking. I’d go on walks and think, I’d listen to music and think, I’d drive around and think. And after a little bit of hard thinking my brain would slip into a sort of nothingness. I realized I had been meditating without intending to. After making this realization I decided to do some research.

Source: Karma Jello

The goal of meditation is to focus and quiet your mind, eventually reaching a higher level of awareness and inner calm. You can meditate anywhere and at any time. No matter what’s going on around you, you can access a sense of tranquility and peace.

I’ve constructed a table outlining some various forms of mediation. I’ve found that, as a beginner, mantra meditation works best for me. Of course yoga has always been one of my favorite activities as well.

Information from Mayo Clinic

Here’s a list of ways I practice meditation day to day. Maybe you will be able to utilize some of these tips.

• Breathe deeply: Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. What are you feeling?
• Scan your body: Close your eyes and become aware of the sensations in your body. Can you locate the source of your discomfort?
• Repeat a mantra: Check out Deepak Chopra Soul of Healing affirmation (free on Spotify and All Music) for an A-Z list of mantras you can try.
• Exercise: Combine your exercise routine with meditation, focus on each movement. How are you changing?
• Prayer: Write your own prayers and one written by someone else. What are you thankful for?
• Read and reflect: Read sacred or texts and poems. What does it mean to you?
• Focus your love and gratitude: Treat those you interact with throughout your day with kindness. How can you help?

  

The most important thing I’ve found through practicing meditation the last of this list. I have realized that I am quick to judge and when offended I jump to conclusions about the other persons motive. By remembering that every person has the right to be happy I realize that they’re actions were probably not directed toward me or meant to hurt me, there is something else going on in that persons life that is affecting their actions. 

I am also prone to move quickly and overlook some of the beautiful things in life. Meditation helps me remember to slow down and appreciate what I have and what is right in front of me instead of mourning the things I have lost and yearning for things I don’t possess. How has meditation influenced your life? New to meditation? Do you think you’d like to give it a try?

My Fave Five Fab Food Blogs

I’ve made the move. I now am based in Portland, Oregon and I couldn’t love it more. It does rain though, nobody lied about that. It’s probably why there are delicious restaurants beyond counting on every street. Rain makes people gloomy, food makes people happy. You’ll see my point. People generally scitter about doing there day to day activities, not spending much time outside (although today the sky is quite blue and the sun is casting a glare on my laptop screen).

Gorgeous day hike at Horsetail Falls. Hiking here (PNW) is like hiking in a fairytale.

The grayer days throughout the winter months give a fantastic opportunity to hone up on cooking skills. Today I bring you my top five favorite foodie blogs.

1. 100 Day of Real Food (website)

When I made the commitment to real food, this was my first source of information and inspiration. It has an unbelievable amount of resources available for anyone interested in starting a real food lifestyle.

2. Budget Bytes (website)

A very clever title for a wonderful blog about eating well without breaking the bank. She details the cost per total, per serving and per ingredient.

3. The Fit Cook (website)

This blog teaches about the nutrition involved in each of the recipes she shares. It’s a great read and easy to follow with step-by-step pictures.

4. Vegan Sparkles (website)

I am not vegan, but lots of people are, and I like to know a few recipes to make if I know they might be coming over. Because that is the nice thing to do. This is my most favoritest vegan blog. A pleasure to read. (BONUS: vegan recipes are also vegetarian.)

5. Gluten Free Goddess (website)

Gluten-free diets are popping up all over the place these days (celiac or intolerant or simply fad-followers). Regardless of the reason, I like to know some gluten-free recipes and this is the blog I like to read.

Winter Solstice and Pfeffernüsse

The winter solstice is tomorrow I wrote this article for Images, the quarterly publication produced by Boulder County Parks and Open Space. Please read because it’s pretty interesting (in my very humble opinion). I thought about copying it here but I didn’t want to lower my google ranking for duplicate content. So yeah.

Anyway Monday is Pfeffernüsse Day in many European countries. No I did not just sneeze, pfeffernüsse (also known as pepernoten in Dutch, päpanät in Plautdietsch, or peppernuts in English) are traditional German cookies. Although they are more related to Christmas (Weihnachten) these days, they were often enjoyed during winter solstice celebrations.

When I took German in high school, we would celebrate Sankt Nikolaustag on December 6th. We would put our shoes in the hallway and our teacher, Frau Singer, would fill them with sweets. Afterward we would sing Christmas carols auf Deutsch and then we would head to the home economics classroom where we would make these spicy little cookies. Fond memories.

Today I would like to share the recipe with you. It makes about 5 millions small, round, thin cookies so you might want to half the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup healthy margarine such as smart balance or earth balance (butter works too)
• 2 eggs (vegan option: 4 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 4 tablespoons water)
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons anise extract
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Stir together the molasses, honey and margarine in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until creamy. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in the eggs, anise extract, white sugar, and brown sugar. Combine the flour, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, pepper, and salt in a large bowl. Add the molasses mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Roll the dough into 3/4″-sized balls. Arrange on baking sheets, spacing at least 1 inch apart. Bake in preheated oven 10 to 15 minutes. Move to a rack to cool.

Molasses, honey and margarine in medium sauce pan.

While that cools to room temperature, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, spices baking soda and salt).

Then add the sugars, eggs and extract to the molasses pot.

Finally add the molasses mixture to the flour mixture and stir until combined. It’s very sticky so be ready for your arm workout for the day. Switch arms to build muscles evenly.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, then roll into balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 325°F for 10 minutes.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Pictured from left to right: Sugar Cookie Cut-outs (and how to ice them), Vegan Cinnamon Sugar Cookies, Candy Cane Blossoms, and Pfeffernüsse

Workout Playlist

Creating a good workout playlist can be overwhelming and while it’s good to have a motivating mix spending time creating the playlist takes valuable time from your workout. So I’ll make it simple for you. The only workout mix you’ll ever need:

Just kidding… unless that works for you. And in that case, you can just stop reading now. If you need more variability, READ ON!

Skip the musical roulette

Instead of setting your MP3 player on shuffle, proactively build timed playlists that provide the right energy all the way through your workout. Barney Stinson says a playlist should be all build. Here is his classic “Get Psyched” playlist:

For a workout mix though I would recommend starting slow for your warm up, building up to a peak and then bringing it back down for your cool down.

Keep it fresh

Every month, find a weekend to look around on iTunes charts to see what’s new by your favorite artists and in your favorite genres so your playlist never gets stale. Workout songs are a personal choice because it comes down to whatever gets YOU moving.

If you need a place to start, here are a few of my favorite workout songs:

• “Get Down Tonight” – KC and the Sunshine Band (113 BPM)
• “Rock and a Hard Place” – The Rolling Stones (129 BPM)
• “Dancing with Myself” – Billy Idol (176 BPM)
• “Moves Like Jagger” – Maroon 5 (128 BPM)
• “Safe and Sound” – Capitol Cities (138 BPM)
• “Beat It” – Michael Jackson (139 BPM)
• “Walk This Way” – Run-DMC (106 BPM)
• “All Shook Up” – Elvis Presley (125 BPM)
• “Seven Nation Army” – The White Stripes (124 BPM)
• “Stronger” – Kanye West (104 BPM)
• “Radioactive” – Imagine Dragons (138 BPM)

Get in rhythm

Studies have shown that listening to music that syncs with your movements provides a better workout than exercising without tunes. The following is a good guide to follow based on what your workout involves:

Beats per minute    Perfect for

160 and up                  Running, jumping rope

140 to 160                   Jogging, Spinning

125 to 140                   Power walking, stair-climbing, elliptical

105 to 125                   Walking, toning

60 to 115                     Stretching, yoga, warming up

What’s on you workout mix?

Upcycled Gift Bags

I inherited some small brown paper bags with handles at a volunteer project this summer. I thought to myself, “These would be perfect for gift bags, if only they didn’t say Xcel energy on them.” Fortunately, I am a very clever person and I have upgraded the ugly plain bags into cute gift bags for Christmas gifts.

It’s very simple to make some of these cute bags for your own use and for any occasion. Find some plain bags. Then check the scrapbooking section of your local craft store for decorations.

Gather some glue and scissors (it’s even easier if you just use stickers), and assemble. Be extra Earth-friendly and reuse your beautiful creations year after year.

Have fun with your creativity! Share a picture of your works of art on my Facebook page.

Vegan Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

This recipe comes from my College Vegetarian Cooking cookbook. The author describes these cookies as “giant Teddy Grahams” which is so accurate I couldn’t think of a better way to say it.

They are vegan and we all know the best thing about vegan baking is that you can eat the raw cookie dough (I guess I should add, “without worrying about getting sick,” because raw eggs have never stopped me from eating cookie dough). The other best thing about vegan baking is that you can take the cookies out early if you like soft cookies or leave them for the entire duration if you like them crunchier (for the same reason). So with all that said, here’s the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup softened margarine (I use smart balance)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Add margarine and sugars to a mixing bowl and combine vigorously until smooth and creamy. Add flour, cinnamon and baking soda. Stir until thoroughly incorporated. Roll dough into 1″-sized balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet, approximately 2″ apart. Bake for eight to 10 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges.

Dear my parent’s Ninja blender and food processor,

I’ll miss you when I move out. I have treasured our time together. We created delicious and nutritious smoothies in individual travel cups. You perfect the art of making cookie dough. If I wasn’t a poor unemployed post-graduate I would invest in your cloned family members. I will not forget you, let’s make the most of the time we have left together.

Love, Maggie

Dear my parent’s convection oven,

I’ll miss you when I move out. I have treasured our time together. You have made it so that I can cookie two trays of cookies at the same time for the same amount of time. Your light provides rays of light as if God is watching over the things that bake within you. If I wasn’t a poor unemployed post-graduate I would invest in your cloned family members. I will not forget you, let’s make the most of the time we have left together.

Love, Maggie

These cookies look so yummy…. mmmmm cinnamonny goodness. Did I ever tell you that cinnamon is my favorite food group? Well it is. 🙂

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies with Candy Cane Blossoms

Bootcamp Pyramid

I am a fan of pyramids (see thigh pyramid workout). If you played any sports in high school you might remember them (fondly or maybe not so fondly) as ladders. Basically, you start with a short interval (for this workout it’s 20 seconds), and work your way up (climb) to the longest interval (50 seconds) and then you step easily back down to the short interval again (20 seconds).

All the intervals here are less than a minute. This makes the time fly and boosts your motivation as you see the intervals get shorter as the end of the workout gets closer. No equipment is necessary for this workout except an open space in which to do it. Turn on some good music and you’ll get a full body cardio/toning interval workout!

You can get your printable version of the workout here. Don’t know how to do these moves? Check out my workout glossary.

Sugar Cookies and How to Ice Them

The sun is slowly setting behind the Flatirons. I am watching it through a window Espresso Roma on the Hill. Small snowflakes speed to the ground as if racing; they cover the dirty black asphalt in a pure white blanket of snow. My Bhakti chai steams in a chipped blue mug in front of me as I breathe in the crisp Boulder air, filling my lungs with it’s slightly marijuana-smelling freshness. The colors of autumn, which were incredibly lovely this year, have been erased and replaced with a new beauty. It reminds me why I love Colorado so very much: the beauty is spectacular for a few fleeting moments before it disappears and is replaced by some other magnificent sight. There’s no way to capture the moment to recall later so the best thing to do is enjoy it while it’s there.

With the fresh snow I am giving myself permission to feel festive, not that I haven’t tried. My personal rule is that Christmas doesn’t exist until Thanksgiving is over so now my Christmas playlist is on repeat and my Holiday movie count is at ten. I’ve also eaten an entire package of Hershey’s candy cane kisses and Christmas cookies are building up. To makes these sugar cookies that don’t spread and keep their shape see the recipe below.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 5 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Cream the butter and sugar together in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on low to medium speed.  Mix thoroughly, scrape down the sides of the bowl with a plastic spatula and mix again. Do not over mix as this aerates the dough and causes the cookies to spread more during baking.
2. Add eggs and vanilla extract to bowl, mix, scrape down the bowl with your spatula and mix again.
3. In a separate bowl sift flour and salt together .
4. Add all of the flour mixture to the sugar mixture bowl.  Mix on low speed. Do not over mix at this stage either, the glutens in the flour develop and the dough can become tough.
5. Roll the dough out between 2 large pieces of parchment paper.  Place on a baking sheet and into the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour.
6. Roll out the dough further if you need to, and cut out cookie shapes.  Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet.  Re-roll scraps and repeat, refrigerate again if necessary.
7. Put cookie dough shapes back into the fridge for 10 minutes to 1 hour to chill again.  They will then hold their shape better when baked.
8. Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C).
9. Bake cookies for 8-12 minutes or until the edges become golden brown.  The baking time will depend on the size of your cookie.
10. Let cookies cool to room temperature before decorating.

This was my first attempt using a glaze this way. Below is the icing recipe I used…

Ingredients:

• 1 cup powder sugar (confectioners sugar)
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 drop lemon juice (can be fresh)

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together. These amounts are approximate: use more powdered sugar and less milk for the edges so it doesn’t run everywhere, use less powdered sugar and more milk for the insides so it spreads itself. It takes a little practice. The lemon juice isn’t for flavor, it just counteracts the sweet sugary flavor.
2. Once mixed you can add food coloring however you’d like.
3. Refrigerate the icing for 10 minute before using (and periodically during the process).
4. If using an icing bag follow the instructions for using the attachments. Line a glasses with a plastic bag or an icing bag and pour the icing in.
5. Cut a small corner off the bag for the icing to come out of. Start very small at first, you can always cut more but you cannot cut less. Add the icing attachments if you have them.
6. Use the thicker icing to line the edge of the cookie and make shapes, the fill with the thinner icing.
7. Add sprinkles and create a masterpiece. 🙂

5-Song Workout

Workout Wednesday is the day that is today. So here’s a thing to print out and do.

It’s necessary for me to go to ab classes most of the time because it’s a struggle to keep myself motivated when doing ab workouts when I’m home alone. Having someone telling you how many moves to do makes me actually believe that I “can do 3 more.” But sometimes (always) I’m lazy so I like staying home better. That’s where this workout comes in. Pick five of your favorite songs of the moment (Bitin’ the Bullet by Grouplove, Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke and Pharrell, Addicted to You by Avicii, Glory and Gore by Lorde, and Mission Bells by Matt Nathanson do it for me).

Find more printable workouts here and a glossary of workout moves here. Download the printable version here.

50 Water Saving Tips

Water is vital to the survival of everything on the planet and is limited in supply. Earth may be known as the “water planet”, but even though about 70% of its surface is covered by water, less than 1% is available for human use. The Earth’s populations and demands for water use increase the water supply remains the same, but we can all do our part to protect this critical and precious resource. When it comes to conserving water, small adjustments can have a big impact. Save water and protect the environment.

Inside Water Savings

Kitchen

• When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• Dishwashers, especially Energy Star, typically use less water than washing dishes by hand.
• Look for water efficient dishwashers if you are thinking of buying a new one.
• Use only one glass or container for your beverage of choice each day to cut back on the dishes you need to wash.
• Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste.
• Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
• Don’t use running water to thaw food. Instead, defrost food in the refrigerator.
• Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. BONUS: This also reduces energy costs.
• Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
• Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup.

Laundry Room

• When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
• Have a plumber re-route your greywater to trees and plants rather than the sewer line. Check with your city and county for codes.
• If you’re looking to buy a new washing machine look for water efficient models.

Bathroom

Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.

Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.

Turn off the water in the shower while shampooing and conditioning your hair, while washing your body and shaving your legs to save 150 gallons a month.

Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year. (To test for leaks add food coloring to the tank, if you see color in the bowl you have a leak).

• When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That’s up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
• If you’re in the market for a new toilet, consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.
• When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
• One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.
• While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.
• Install water efficient faucets and shower heads.

Outside Water Savings

Garden

• Group plants with the same watering needs together.
• Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region.
• Plant species native to your region.
• Start a compost pile. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
• Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil around plants.
• Use sprinkler that deliver water in larger droplets. Mists evaporate before hitting the ground.
• For hanging baskets, planters and pots, put ice cubes on top of the soil to water without overflow.
• Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.
• Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.
• Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
• A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons per minute so time your use.
• Examine soil moisture depth. If the top two to three inches of soil are dry, it’s time to water.
• Collect water from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts. Direct the runoff to plants and trees.

Lawn

• Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.
• Mow your lawn to between 1.5 and 2 inches to shade soil and protect roots.
• If you walk through your grass and you leave footprints it’s time to water.
• Make sure your grass seed is suitable for your region.
• Aerate your lawn so water seeps into ground instead of running off.
• Water your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every five days.

Other

• Use porous material for walkways and patios to prevent wasteful runoff and keep water in your yard.
• Use a broom instead of the hose to clean off the driveway, sidewalks, paths and patios.
• Let your kids play in the sprinklers over areas of your lawn that need water.
• Wash your car on the lawn to water it at the same time (use biodegradable soap and a hose head that you can turn off the water).
• If you see water leaking from public sprinklers or fire hydrants report them to the city.

How do you save water in your home?

Variation on a theme: Candy Cane Blossoms

I know today is Black Friday and it’s tempting to go out and get all the great deals that have been advertised. I just want to get on a soap box really fast and say how ridiculous I find it that we spend one day expressing how thankful we are for all the blessings we have in our lives and the very next day all that goes out the window. And for what? Cheap goods that no one really needs. I hope that everyone who reads this might take a step back and really evaluate what’s important. I also want to put a plug in for Small Business Saturday which is tomorrow. You may not get a toaster for $3, but chances are you already have a toaster. And by shopping small you will support your community in a very big way and you will find great gifts that are unique and meaningful. Use this map to find small businesses in your community. That’s all *takes step down off soap box*…

I do love this season. I love the music and the tingly feelings and the well-wishers. Oh… and the cookies. I LOVE cookies! The way cookie monster loves cookies. *nom nom nom* One of my favorite Christmas cookies is peanut-butter blossoms. They’re the ones with the kiss stuck on top. (Follow the link for the recipe).

So, when I saw a picture for the most adorable “Candy Cane Blossoms” on Pinterest, I was super excited. I mean, the spell Pinterest holds over me was broken: I didn’t even pin the recipe. I actually got off the couch and checked whether I had the ingredients. Keep scrolling down for the recipe.

Ingredients

Hershey’s recipe

• 48 Hershey’s Candy Cane Mint Candy Kisses
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened (vegan option: smart balance or other healthy margarine for baking)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg (vegan option: 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed into 2 tablespoons water)
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons milk (vegan option: milk substitute of choice)
• Red or green sugar crystals, and festive sprinkles

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Remove wrappers from candies. Beat butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red sugar, green sugar or sprinkles. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Press a candy piece into center of each cookie. Move from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

You can also make them birthday cookies like I did for the girl I used to nanny.

Happy late Thanksgiving everyone! Let me know what your favorite cookies are in the comments below.

Get Fresh With Avocados

I am a big fan of avocados these days. You might go so far to say avocado problem. Some puns just work better when you hear them. If I had a TV show you would have heard, “I’ve-o got a problem,” but I don’t have a TV show… I have a blog. I’ll give you a minute to say it to yourself a few times and then we can move on to more pressing matters…
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Ready?

Avocados. Are. The. Best. Things. In. The. History. Of. Ever. 

(I certainly like to hyperbolize)

Let me get plant nerdy on you for a moment and inform you that avocados are the FRUIT (a berry containing a single seed to be exact) of an avocado tree. The avocado is also affectionately called alligator pear because of it’s shape and wrinkled, leathery skin.

Health Benefits

Avocados are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, which according to the American Heart Association, they reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and decrease bad cholesterol levels in your blood. Monounsaturated fats also typically are rich in Vitamin E and help your body absorb fat soluble nutrients from food.

Additionally, avocados provide magnesium and potassium, both of which help reduce blood pressure. They contain about 10 grams of fiber (75% insoluble for digestive help, 25% soluble to give you the feeling of fullness).

Storing

To prevent a cut avocado from browning, coat the surface in lemon or lime juice. The brown color is the result of oxidation, the process which creates free-radicals, the acidity of citrus fruits slows down this process.

If you need to ripen rock-hard avocados quickly, store them in a paper bag with apples and they should be ripe in a day or two. Apples emit a hormone called ethylene which cues fruit to ripen.

Uses

• Mash up half an avocado and spread it on your bread. En route to the New World, Europeans spread avocados in place of butter. 
• Blend it into a smoothie with almond milk ice cubes.
• Guacamole is healthy and delicious. Americans consume 8 million pounds of guac on Super Bowl Sunday and 14 million at Cinco de Mayo.
• Mix it with plain yogurt and spoon it over grilled chicken or fish.
• Avocado oil is good for cooking at low heats. Studies show is has antioxidant properties and can reduce signs of aging.
• Stir it into tuna, chicken, or potato salad in place of mayonnaise. Add a pinch of curry.
• Whisk it with fresh citrus juice as a salad dressing. 
• Use them to treat sunburns, prevent chaffing and reduce wrinkles. Mix with honey and yogurt, then slather it on your face for a great moisturizer.
• For healthier baked goods substitute some or all of the butter in the recipe with avocado. Pop Sugar has great recipes to try.

Avocado Semifreddo

This recipe is from Rachel Ray magazine

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup raw pistachios, chopped
3 tablespoons sugar
1 large avocado
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups cream
Salt
Cooking spray

Directions:

In a nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium high. Add nuts, sugar and a pinch of salt; stir until sugar browns, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Coat 5-by-9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; line with plastic wrap, leaving 3-inch overhang. In a food processor, puree avocado flesh, condensed milk, lemon juice and pinch of saly. Whip cream to stiff peaks; fold in avocado puree and nuts. Pour into pan. Cover with plastic wrap overhang; freeze until firm, approximately 4 hours. Unmold onto platter, slice and serve immediately. Serve 8.

Om Alone

Such a punny title. There are many reasons to practice yoga at home, not least of which is the cost of attending classes at a studio. Studios can be over-full, and you’ll struggle to find an inch to lay out your mat. Parking can be a nightmare, especially if your studio is in a busy city center. You may encounter expressionless holier-than-thou clones who can practically balance on their noses, causing you to feel inadequate. Who can achieve nirvana under these circumstances? I’m not anti-studios but I am pro home and at home you can avoid these distractions and you don’t have to share your space. Need further convincing?

At home:

• You can’t miss a class because you schedule them.
• You determine the amount of time you spend yoga-ing.
• You can practice whatever pose you want, however many time you want and for whatever amount of time you want.
• You develop a deeper awareness of yourself and your mental and physical state without a teacher’s guiding voice.
• You may KNOW that yoga is not competitive but you will feel more comfortable exploring challenging poses when you are alone.
• You will become more capable of suiting your practice to meet your needs.
• Are you sensing a theme? YOU.

So stay home to get a toned and limber body and a stress-free mind. Be sure to get in a least a Sun Salutations in each day and a full 45 minutes routine two to three times each week. Attend classes to have a trained teacher check your alignment two to four times each month. At these supplemental classes, pick up a few new poses to add to your home routine.

Create Your Yoga Space

Pick a quiet space, where noises from the street, your neighbors, or living mates won’t reach you. Bring in decorative elements like a buddha statue and candles and incense. Play meditative music to set the mood. Make sure there is plenty of space around your mat and the area is clutter free.

Make a Date with Your Mat

Classes are generally 90 minutes long but it’s okay to practice in shorter increments. Most yoga teachers agree that practicing for 20 minutes each day is more beneficial that practicing for 90 minutes once or twice each week. Making yoga a habit gives you feedback about your body and mind, which can help improve your practice. So schedule time for yoga each day just like you schedule time for work and spending time with your family.

Have a Plan

Before you lay out the mat it can be helpful to decide which poses you’d like to explore further and which parts of your body you’d like to focus on. Pay close attention when you do go to class and think about how you can use what you learn at home. Notice the sequence your teacher introduces poses in, how long you hold each pose, when inhales and exhales are used. Talk to your teacher for suggestions and advice about how to get the most out of your home practice. Write down notes to help you remember. Find resources on the Yoga Journal website or my personal favorite, Yoga Downloads. Learn the basics for creating a pose sequence and how each pose is set up. Then you’ll have a good foundation when you actually get on your mat.

Create a Sequence

Building a sequence from scratch can be daunting so focus on parts of your body, which would benefit from some attention. Make sure you have a quiet beginning and end. Sun Salutation are another great place to start to get the body warmed up before moving into more focused poses.Yoga Journal has a yoga sequence builder, so use that to help you get some ideas. The more you practice at home the more you will gravitate toward a certain group of poses. Keep this sequence as a backup for days you are too tired or too busy to come up with an original sequence.

Just Do It

Incorporate yoga into your daily life. It’s okay to watch TV or do a crossword while flowing into poses. It’s okay to do a Sun Salutations while you wait for the laundry to finish. Do what you can, when you can, where you can. Become more responsive to your own needs and let yourself fall in love with practicing at home.

50 Energy Saving Tips

Much of the energy consumed in the U.S. each year is wasted through inefficient technology and transmission. This causes families and businesses to pay higher energy bills and results in increased carbon pollution. Energy efficiency is a simple and cost effective solution to combat climate change, prevent further air pollution and reduce the cost of energy for consumers. 

Sometimes there is great need to consider your impact on the planet. Sometimes you can change the way you are living in order to promote cleaner air. Sometimes you set out to write a great blog post describing all the wonderful things you can do to create a better world. Sometimes your blog post is just a list. Sorry, I’m not sorry.

General

• Consider powering your home with renewable energy. Many companies offer partial or full renewable energy plans.
• Get off the grid by adding solar panels to your home. You may actually make money by selling energy you don’t use to the power company.
• Be sure your windows seal properly and are energy efficient.
  
• Check for air leaks, fix the ones you find.
• Make sure your home is completely insulated.

Lighting

• Switch to low-energy fluorescent lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times as long as regular lightbulbs.
• Use motion sensing bulbs for your outdoor lights. They are both efficient and convenient.
• Save energy (and lower your electric bill) by turning off the lights when you leave a room.

Appliances

• If you’re in the market for new appliances, opt for energy efficient ones to save energy and money on your bill.
• Clean the lint filter in your dryer regularly. A dirty filter uses up to 30% more energy to dry clothes.
• Better yet, instead of using the dryer, try a drying rack, especially on sunny days. You will save energy AND your clothes won’t shrink.
• Do all your laundry in one day so the dryer doesn’t have to heat up again for each load.
• Set the temperature of your refrigerator to between 30 and 42°F, or use the energy save function if available.
• Check the coils behind your refrigerator for dust. The refrigerator doesn’t have to work as hard when these are clean.
• A full freezer full uses less energy than one that is empty.
• After the rinse cycle, turn off your dishwasher and open the door a crack to let your dishes air dry.
• Only run your dishwasher when full.
• Use less energy by heating up leftovers in a microwave or toaster oven instead of the oven.
• While in use keep your oven closed – every time you open the door the oven loses 25°F of heat.
• Turn your oven and burners off toward the end of baking and cooking. It will continue cooking using existing heat without using additional energy.
• Use copper-bottomed pots and pans, which use energy more efficiently.
• Conserve energy by keeping your pots and pans covered while cooking.
• Match pots and pans to similar sized burners to prevent energy loss around edges.

Electronics

• Unplug your chargers and kitchen appliances when not in use – they draw energy just by being plugged into the power outlet.
• Better yet, plug your electronics into a power strip and turn it off when not in use.
• Instead of a desktop, purchase a laptop if you are looking to buy a new computer – it will require less electricity to run.
• Come to that, don’t forget to turn off your computer when you aren’t using it to save power. Or if you prefer to leave it on use the hibernation option instead of a screensaver.
• Look for energy efficient televisions, if you are looking to buy a new one.

Heating

• Cover bare floor with area rugs for insulation and comfort.
• Raise heat gradually by a couple of degrees each time instead of jumping the heat up.
• In winter, set your heater between 68 and 70°F during the day and 65 to 68°F at night.
• When not in use close the flue to your fireplace and install glass doors to keep heat in and cold out.
• Change the filters in your heating system every month.
• Let the sun help you heat your home by leaving blinds and curtains open during the day and closed at night.
• Lower your thermostat when you are out. If you go on vacation don’t turn it below 55°F to save energy and to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.

Cooling

• Consider installing an evaporative cooler instead of air conditioning. How Stuff Works has written an article outlining the pros and cons of each.
• Keep your exterior doors and windows closed when AC is on. Keep them slightly open if you have a swamp cooler to promote air flow.
• Keep interior doors open so air flows freely throughout your home.
• Change your AC filters once a month.
• Turn your thermostat to the highest possible comfortable temperature and set it to “auto.”
• Close air vents and doors to rooms you aren’t using.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate air more efficiently. Additionally, the breeze from ceiling fans can make you feel 3-4° cooler so you can set your thermostat a little higher and still feel cool.
• Provide shade over your home with trees. Plant a new one every Arbor Day.

Water Heating

• Always launder with cold water or make sure you only wash a full load if you use hot water.
• Install low-flow shower head and faucets.
• Turn off your water heater if you are leaving town. Most heaters can reheat water in a few hours after you return.
• Set the temperature of your water heater to 120°F.
• When buying a new water heater, look for one that is energy efficient.
• Take shorter showers and only allow the water to run while you are wetting your hair and rinsing off.

Check out Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home from the U.S. Department of Energy for further, more detailed information about these ideas and quite a few other ideas to help you save money and energy in your home.

Which of these tips are you willing to try?

Cooking Fats: Behind the Music

I didn’t realize I had so much to say on this subject but as it turns out I am quite passionate about cooking oils and fats. So passionate that I believe this is one of the longest posts I’ve ever written. Because of this epic of a blog post, I have included jump links so you can simply click on the oil you want to know more about to easily move around this article.

Recommended | Coconut Oil | Butter | Olive Oil | Animal Fats | Avocado Oil | Fish Oil | Flax Oil | Nut Oils | Sesame Oil

Avoid these | Canola Oil | Palm Oil

Recommended Oils

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is extracted from the brown meat of a coconut. It contains, 92% saturated fats, 6% monounsaturated fats and 1.6% polyunsaturated fats. These saturated fats were once considered unhealthy, but recent studies show they are a safe source of energy. Additionally, previous studies were conducted on refined coconut oil that contained hydrogenated oils (which are bad!). This is why you should be sure to buy virgin (processed without chemicals or high heat) coconut oil that is high in the medium-chain fatty acids, which absorbs quickly into the body.

Coconut oil also has important health benefits. It is rich in a fatty acid called Lauric Acid, which can improve cholesterol and acts against bacteria and other pathogens. Additionally, coconut oil provides a slight boost in metabolism and, compared to other fats, increases the feeling of fullness.

This oil is semi-solid at room temperature therefore it won’t go rancid for months or even years. I recommend using coconut oil for frying, due its high heat tolerance, due to saturated fat content.

**Side Note** higher saturated fats means higher smoke point, the smoke point is the point at which the nutrients in an oil or fat begin to break down).

Coconut oil can be used as a replacement for other oils in a typical recipe by a ratio of 1:1. You need less coconut oil than you’d expect when sautéing (due to low water content).

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Butter

8 Health Benefits of Butter – Dr. Axe

Like coconut oil, butter was also demonized in the past due to its saturated fat content (68% saturated fat, 28% monounsaturated fat and 4% polyunsaturated fat), but there really is no reason to fear real butter. Real butter is good for you and actually fairly nutritious. It contains Vitamins A, E and K2. It also contains the fatty acids Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), which may help decrease body fat percentage in humans, and Butyrate, which can prevent inflammation, improve digestive health and fight obesity. For butter rich in Vitamin K2, CLA and other nutrients, make sure it comes from organic, grass-fed, unpasteurized cows.

When cooking with butter, it tends to burn at high heat, like for frying. This is because regular butter contains trace amounts of sugars and proteins. To avoid burning your butter, you can cook with ghee, clarified butter from which sugars and proteins have been removed, leaving only pure butterfat. I recommend using butter for baking, and cream-sauces and ghee for frying.

There’s a quick tutorial for how to make butter yourself at the bottom of my recipe for buttermilk cake. Here is a tutorial for clarifying butter.

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Olive Oil

Olive Oil Excellence

Extracted from the fruit of the olive tree, olive oil is loved for its heart healthy effects and is believed to be a key reason for the health benefits of the mediterranean diet. It can raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and lower the amount of oxidized LDL cholesterol circulating in your bloodstream. The fatty acids in olive oil are mostly monounsaturated (75% monounsaturated, 14% saturated, 11% polyunsaturated).

When buying olive oil, make sure to look for quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil, that is cold-pressed and unfiltered. It has much more nutrients and antioxidants than the refined type. It should appear cloudy and be golden in color. The bottle should be green to slow oxidation ( a process which creates free-radicals that are damaging to cells in the body)

To keep it from going rancid, store olive oil in a cool, dry, dark place. While olive oil is inferior to coconut oil for cooking at high heat, studies show that you can still use it for cooking or sautéing at lower heats (under 320°F). Olive oil is best used to drizzle on salads or other dishes after they have been cooked.

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Animal Fats – Lard, Tallow, Bacon Drippings

The fatty acid content of an animal depends on the animal’s diet: A diet primarily composed of grains results in higher proportion of polyunsaturated fats; if the animal is pasture raised or grass-fed, saturated and monounsaturated fats will be higher. That said, animal fats from naturally-raised animals are superior for cooking.

You can save the drippings from meat to use later, or you can buy ready-made lard or tallow from the store (just be sure to check the label for no hydrogenated oils).

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Avocado Oil

Avocado oil has a similar composition to olive oil: it contains primarily monounsaturated fats, with few saturated and polyunsaturated as well. Therefore, I recommend using it in similar ways to olive oil.

Recent studies show that avocados are a powerhouse of nutrients and healthy fats your body craves. Keep your eyes peeled for a post all about this wonderful superfood.

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Fish Oil

Fish Oil – Dr. Vlada Korol

Omega-3 fatty acids are DHA and EPA. This is old hat if you read my post about hemp, flax and chia seeds. Another way to satisfy your need for omega-3s can be found in a tablespoon of fish oil. The best source is cod fish liver oil, because it is also rich in Vitamin D3, a nutrient many people are deficient of. Due to its high concentration of polyunsaturated fats, fish oil shouldn’t be used for cooking. To unlock these health benefits, take it as a supplement, one tablespoon per day. Store it in a cool, dry and dark place.

Just check with the manufacturer to see where the fish came from and how it was caught and find it on you’re sustainable fish guide.

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Flax Oil

Flax oil contains lots of the plant form of Omega-3, Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA), which I discussed in my post about hemp, flax and chia seeds. Due to the high content of polyunsaturated fats, this oil is also best used as a supplement: added to salads, smoothies and other cold foods. However, unless you’re vegan, fish oil is probably a better option. Some studies show that ALA is not efficiently converted to the active forms, EPA and DHA (both of which are readily available in fish oil) in the human body. Therefore, it is absorbed slowly into the body and should be used in small quantities.

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Nut Oils and Peanut Oil

There are many nut oils available and they are generally rich in polyunsaturated fats. They can be used as parts of recipes, but are a poor choice for high heat cooking or frying.

One exception is macadamia nut oil, which like olive oil contains monounsaturated for the majority. The taste may just make up for the step price if you’re willing to shell out the dough (that was a pun). Macadamia oil can be used for low- or medium-heat cooking.

Peanut oil is derived from peanuts, which aren’t technically nuts (they’re legumes). Peanut oil is popular in Asian cooking and some fast-food restaurants use it for deep-frying.

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Sesame Oil

Despite this oil’s high proportion of polyunsaturated fats (41%), it is stable enough for cooking at high heats. It also adds flavor when drizzled over a stir-fry. Sesame oil is a great source of Vitamin E and other nutrients, and is beneficially for maintaining blood pressure. Sesame oil keeps very well at room temperature but storing it in the refrigerator keeps it from going rancid for even longer. Make sure you buy the unrefined variety.

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Avoid These

The following oils are created from genetically modified plants or must be highly processed before hitting the shelves at your local grocery store. This processing increases the shelf life but involves very high heats removing most of the natural flavor. It also causes oxidation, creating free radicals that can damage the cells of our bodies. The processing also creates a huge imbalance in Omega-6 to Omega-3, making them far too rich in Omega-6 fatty acids.

Many of these oils have been wrongly labeled as “heart-healthy,” but new research has linked them to heart disease and cancer. One study looked at vegetable oils commonly found in U.S. grocery stores and found that they contain between 0.56 to 4.2% trans fats. That’s why I continually strew the importance of reading labels. Trans fats are bad!

Trans fats increase levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol. It is found in hydrogenated, or partially-hydrogenated fat products like margarines and vegetable shortenings. It is also used in packaged snack foods and by fast-food and other restaurants.

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Canola Oil

Canola oil, best used in baking and frying, is derived from rapeseeds. Fun fact: its name comes from the phrase “Canadian oil, low acid” referring to the first canola plants. These were bred in Canada to have lower levels of erucic acid, which was believed to have adverse affect on the heart, at the time.

The fatty acid breakdown of canola oil is fairly good, with a perfect Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio of 2:1. That’s before the heavy processing, the final product is completely devoid of this natural ratio. Watch this youtube video to see the whole disgusting operation.

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Palm Oil

Palm oil is derived from the fruit of oil palms. It consists mostly of saturated and monounsaturated fats, with small amounts of polyunsaturates. Which is why I would recommend using it for frying. Red Palm Oil (the unrefined variety) is best. It is rich in Vitamins E, Coenzyme Q10 and other nutrients.

Palm oil is a tricky one for me to classify because there are many beneficial qualities associated with this oil. Unfortunately, harvesting palm oil is terribly unsustainable: in areas where palm trees are farmed specifically for the production of oil Orangutans, an endangered species, are losing their native habitat. So if you are very attached to using palm oil check with the manufacturer to find out about their farming practices and whether they are sensitive to the habitat of orangutans.

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Avoid these too:

• Cottonseed Oil
• Rapeseed Oil
• Grapeseed Oil
• Soybean Oil
• Corn Oil
• Sunflower Oil
• Safflower Oil
• Rice Brain Oil
• Hydrogenated Oil
• Any oil labeled refined, hydrogenated, or partially-hydrogenated

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What is your favorite oil or fat to use for cooking?

The Sssshhh!-We’re-trying-to-sleep Workout

We’ve all gotten the urge to workout in awkward situations. You don’t want to wake a sleeping baby with your grunts of motivation. You’re roommate is studying for a big test and can’t stand your heavy breathing. It’s 1 o’clock in the morning and your downstairs neighbors are pounding on your floor because of your incessant jumping on their ceiling. Now you are equipped with this little beauty. It’s a total-body workout which can be done in almost perfect silence.

You can download the printable pdf here.

Below is a description of how to do these workout moves. For a full list you can check out my glossary here. You can also find more printable workouts by clicking here.

Front Kicks
Start in a standing position. Lift your right leg straight out in front of your body until it is as close to parallel with the ground as you can lift it. Alternate legs.

Uppercut
Stand with feet hip-width distance apart. With a quick upward motion, scoop your right fist through the air to just in front of your face. Repeat on the other side.

Lunge Kick
Do a lunge then when you’re standing do a front kick.

Lunge
Take a big step forward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Front Kicks
Start in a standing position. Lift your right leg straight out in front of your body until it is as close to parallel with the ground as you can lift it. Alternate legs.

Squat
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Immediately rise out of squat, returning to standing with arms by side.

Pushup
Lay on your belly with hand flat on the floor on either side, forearms perpendicular to the floor. Stiffen body and literally push yourself away from the ground, hinging at the knees. When arms are straight hold and with control release your body, hover above the ground and repeat.

Russian Twist
Grab a 5- to 15-pound dumbbell with both hands. Stand with feet hip-width distance apart and your arms straight out. Take a big step forward with your left foot and, engaging your abs twist your torso to the left as you bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Twist back to center, push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Crunch
Lay flat on your back. Place your hands behind your head, and your feet flat on the floor. Pull your shoulders away from the mat. Make sure you don’t pull your head forward with your arms but rather keep your gaze upward and use your hand for neck support only. Lower yourself back to the mat.

Calf Raise
Stand with feet hip-width distance apart. Lift up onto your toes, hold and release.

Tricep Dip
Find an elevated surface such as a step, a coffee table over a chair. Place your palms on the surface directly behind your body. Hold yourself up and gently lower yourself down using your arms. When your arms make a 90-degree angle behind you lift yourself back up to the starting position.

Glute Kickback
Standing facing the back of a chair, hold onto the top of the back rest. Lift your right leg straight behind you as far as you can, hold and return to the floor. Repeat on left side.

Plank
Set-up the top of a push-up position with your hands directly below your shoulder. A variation of this is to rest on your forearms with elbows directly beneath shoulders. Hold your body completely straight by engaging your abs. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: don’t drop your hips or raise your butt.

Vertical Leg Crunches
Do crunches but instead of positioning your feet on the floor press them straight up as if trying to press them into the ceiling.

Side Plank
Lie on your side with your legs straight. Prop yourself up with your hand directly below your shoulder (or on your forearm with your elbow directly below your shoulder). Your body should form a diagonal line with your feet stacked on top of each other. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: be sure your hips and knees stay of the floor.

Short Bridge
Lay on your back with arms by your side and feet flat against the floor, hip-width distance apart. Lift your hips from the mat until your body forms a straight line from shoulder to knee.

Bird Dogs
Postion yourself like a table top, knees flat on floor, hip-width distance apart directly below hips, hand shoulder-width apart, directly below shoulders. Lift your right arm and left left so they form a line parallel to the floor, hold then return to table-top. Switch sides.

Jack-Knife Sit-Up
Lay flat on the ground, arms extended over your head legs straight. Raise your arms and body off the ground at the same time as you lift your legs straight up so that you meet in a fold balanced on your lower back.

Hershey Bar Cake

Yesterday was my last day working for Boulder County Parks and Open Space. The seasonal position started in April and ended in October so I knew it wasn’t forever going in but it is still sad to say goodbye. I loved everything about working there; my co-workers are all wonderful, caring people and my work was interesting and varied. I learned a lot about myself this summer and a lot about what kind of work I’d like to pursue in the future. They say when one door closes another one opens and behind the second door there’s cake! (That transition was a little forced, sorry)

I made this cake for my mom’s birthday because it’s her favorite since she was a little girl. This is quite possibly the best chocolate cake recipe ever in the history of ever. Just sayin’.

Also, I lost a lot of pictures when I did an update to my phone so unfortunately the pictures of her birthday party were among those that have gone missing. 😦

Ingredients:

• 6 (1.55 ounce) Hershey’s milk chocolate bars
• 1-1/2 cups Hershey’s chocolate syrup
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2-1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tsps vanilla extract 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan. Set aside. 

In a microwave safe bowl combine the candy bars and the syrup. Microwave in increments until melted stirring occasionally. Set aside. 

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. 

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. 

Add melted chocolate, beating well. 

In another bowl, combine flour and baking soda. 

Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk to sugar mixture. Beat well after each addition. 

Add vanilla. 

Pour batter into prepared pan(s). 

Bake for 45 minutes.

Then cover with aluminum foil and cool in pan for 15 minutes. 

Turn over onto wire rack. 

Dust with powdered sugar, frost it, drizzle with icing or leave it. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

“This cake has a hole in it.”

“You fixed it!”

— My Big Fate Greek Wedding

12 Weeks of Wellness: Excite

We’ve made it, it’s the final week of wellness. Congratulate yourself because you just spent the last twelve weeks investing in your health. I’m so proud of you! The last order of business is to focus on your external appearance. Your self-confidence runs deep and, believe it or not, promotes your health. Go forth and project this into the world.

This week excite: update your closet to suit your personal style and make an impression

Click the week for more information for why these are important to your wellness

12 Weeks of Wellness: Create

Studies show that the majority of people eat fewer than 70% of meals at homes. Reclaim your kitchen, reinstate family dinner, eat together, learn to cook and shop for food (don’t forget your reusable shopping bags!), invest in and value your food, and plant a garden to grow your own ingredients. During the 11th week of wellness, I encourage you to make at least 90% of meals at home. 

Check out my recipes page for ideas.

This week create: eat only food that was prepared at home

Click the week for more information for why these are important to your wellness

Pumpkin Spice Bread

It’s October and pumpkin is everywhere. In the past two weeks alone, I’ve had two pumpkin spice latte, 4 cups of sweet harvest pumpkin tea, a bag of pumpkin spice kisses, five varieties of pumpkin beer (including one from Fate) and this bread… (and no, these companies are not my sponsors).

Ingredients:

• 1 can pumpkin
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, sugar, water, vegetable oil, applesauce, yogurt and eggs. Beat until well mixed. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, nutmeg and cloves in another bowl and stir until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture. Beat until smooth. Grease two 5×3 inch loaf pans and dust with flour. Evenly divide the batter between the three pans. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10-15 minutes, then remove from pans by inverting onto a rack and tapping the bottoms. Slice and serve plain, buttered, or with cream cheese.

12 Weeks of Wellness: Practice

The 10th week of wellness is upon us. It’s important to remember to have fun in life. If you have a hobby already great keep at it, keep practicing! If you don’t, I am giving you permission to give yourself time to relax and do something you enjoy. I will even send signed notes that you can give to your boss. That probably won’t do anything but I am willing to do that for you anyway. Just shoot me an email.

PHYSICAL & SOCIAL

• Any team sport
• yoga
• Extreme sports
• Contemporary dance
• Boxing
• Martial arts
• Volunteering
• Traveling
• Bodybuilding

ARTISTIC

• Taking up an instrument
• Pottery
• Photography
• Learning graphic design
• Watercolor painting
• Wood-working
• Sculpting
• Building models

INTELLECTUALLY STIMULATING

• Learning a new language
• Researching a topic
• Blogging
• Playing simulation games
• Creating a comic book
• Writing poetry
• Songwriting
• Completing word games and puzzles
• Becoming a chess master

COLLECTIONS

• Wine
• Shot glasses
• Postcards
• Comic books
• Memorabilia
• LPs
• Sports cards and paraphernalia
• Beanie babies
• Beer bottles
• Antique lighters
• Cigars
• Pulp literature
• License plates
• Decks of cards
• Stamps

This week practice: take up a new hobby

Click the week for more information on each of these topics that are important to your wellness:

Happy Bartolomé Day!

I didn’t write this but it’s better than what I could write so I’m just reposting. Here’s a link to the original on The Oatmeal.

Just to reiterate I didn’t write this or make it in any way. I just uploaded the pictures, which is super impressive, I know. You should seriously check out The Oatmeal though. He writes great comics, especially about cats. 🙂

12 Weeks of Wellness: Reconnect

It’s week 9 of 12 Weeks of Wellness. I hope you’ve been keeping up with and adding to the other 8 wellness tips. This week the focus is on reconnecting with what is important to you. If you’ve lost touch with friends and family, be sure to give them a call. If your passion is building handcrafted boxes, collecting teapots or volunteering at the hospital, refocus your center toward these things that matter most to you. If you’ve been meaning to catch up on your reading, go ahead and take the time to relax with a cup of tea.

Life is for living, you only live once so seize the day.

Identify, focus in on, and spend time doing what matters

Deep down there are things that drive you – hobbies that excite us, passions that you wish you had more time to explore, people you wish could spend more time with. 

Breaking it down: Questions to ask yourself

What does my life look like ten years from now?

Picturing yourself in the future can help you figure out what you need to do in the present to get where you want to be.

What is my purpose?

Life is about discovering the answer to this question and the answer is always changing. Focus on what your present purpose is.

What excites me?

Security and comfort may be keeping you from pursuing the things that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning.

What can I let slide?

It’s important to recognize that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to keep up with everything. Decided what you may be willing to cut back on.

Do the consequences have meaning?

Your goals may change and something you’ve been striving for will not be as important as it once was. It may be time to let it go and move on.

Making time

Do it first.

Decide on your top three most important tasks and do them first thing in the morning, before other items that don’t matter as much.

Schedule it.

If you’ve blocked out time for the most important people and tasks in your calendar there is no chance they will be lost in the shuffle.

Treat it as an emergency.

In an emergency you forget about the things that aren’t important and your to-do list does not get checked off. Don’t let the important things be forgotten.

This week reconnect: tune out external distractions and focus on what matters

Vegetarianize Your Meal

This will be a quick post for Food Fun Friday. If you’re trying to cut back on your meat consumption for whatever reason (you love animals, your health or the environment) you might want to know how to substitute tofu for ground beef or turkey in a recipe. Here’s how…

Freeze one package of firm tofu. Open package, dump block into a colander in the sink. Use you hand to crumble the tofu into pieces. 

Heat two tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Add tofu crumbles. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of brewer’s yeast. Stir until heated through.

Use in any recipe as you would ground meat. Like in Chili.

12 Weeks of Wellness: Balance

Food companies have us hooked by strategically including choice ingredients in their food: sugar, salt and fat. These three ingredients offer instantaneous bliss that causes us to continue to pursue happiness by overindulging. You really can’t eat just one. Be sure to pay attention to the amount of sugar and salt you are consuming to avoid some serious health problems in the present and in the future.

This week balance: limit your overall sugar and salt intake

CLICK THE WEEK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHY THESE ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR WELLNESS

Getting Around

My first semester of college I took a microeconomics course. I learned a lot from this class but one of the biggest things I took away was the following.

“When traffic is congested, each driver is imposing a cost on all other drivers on the road –he is literally getting in their way (and they are getting in his way.) This cost can be substantial: in major metropolitan areas, each time someone drives to work, as opposed to taking public transportation or working at home, he can easily impose $15 or more in hidden costs on other drivers.” – Microeconomics by Paul Krugman and Robin Wells

In that class I also learned that “You don’t need to know this,” means, “You need to know this,” in professor speak, and that you should never enter a jungle alone (I don’t remember why, but I wrote it down in my notes).

The point is, I had never really thought about the negative economical factors involved with automobiles. The environmental impact is something I’ve always known is terrible. Automobile driving is a major cause of:

1. Global Warming: Carbon dioxide emissions from autos are the largest contributor to global warming.
2. Air Pollution: Automobiles produce nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter that contribute to smog and respiratory illnesses.
3. Water Pollution: Automobile manufacturing, gas and oil production, road runoff of fuel, oil and antifreeze, underground gasoline storage tanks and marine oil spills all pollute our water.
4. Habitat Destruction: Oil drilling, metals mining and road construction all damage wildlife habitat.
5. International Conflict: Nations compete over oil reserves. The US currently imports 48% of its oil — the highest levels ever. Many analysts ties this oil dependency to the hundreds of billions we have spent on Persian Gulf wars.

Americans drive an average of 231 miles per week, which comes out to about 12,000 miles per year. For a car with average miles per gallon (21), this is 571 gallows of gasoline annually. Given that every gallon of gasoline used emits 20 pounds of CO2, that means our cars are emitting 11,420 pounds of CO2 each year. The Union of Concerned Scientists stated, “personal use of cars and light trucks (including pickups and SUVs) is the single most damaging consumer behavior.” In fact, the most significant change an individual could make toward reducing their carbon footprint is to cut down on how much they drive. Here’s how:

Lastly, be a considerate and cautious driver. Fast accelerates and decelerations are damaging to your vehicle and the environment. Moral of the story: Be the tortoise, not the hare. In this classic children’s tale, the tortoise proved that slow and steady won the race. The arrogant hare who burst from the gates and slams on his breaks for a rest proves that being a jerk never got anyone anywhere. Or at least that’s what I got out of it.

How do you cut back on your car time?

Seed Showdown: Comparing Flax, Chia and Hemp

It’s Food Fun Friday and what’s more fun than talking about seeds? I can’t think of anything. It started with flaxseeds, and now that hemp and chia seeds are prominent players in the health food market I think it’s time to compare and contrast the benefits of these superfoods. It’s time for a Seed Showdown.

Here’s a Venn diagram…

aaaaaand a table.

and now for some words…

Chia

Remember the “Ch-ch-ch-chia Pet“? Well these seeds are the same thing only you aren’t going to grow them into a cute hedgehog, you’re going to eat them. Chia, Salvia hispanica is a plant, which belongs to the mint family. It was so highly recognized by the Aztecs that it was often used as currency. It contains high levels of antioxidants, calcium, magnesium and iron. Studies show that chia has enormous potential to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes. It can lower blood sugar (glucose) after a meal, reduce inflammation and blood pressure, help maintain hydration and is a natural blood thinner.

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/eating-chia-seeds/story?id=18296119

My tip: fill a liter bottle with juice, tea, flavored water or lemonade and add 3 tablespoons. Shake every 5 minutes and enjoy throughout the day.

Flax

Flax or Linum usitatissimum is in the Linaceae family. Hippocrates wrote about using flax for the relief of abdominal pains, and the French Emperor Charlemagne favored flax seed so much that he passed laws requiring its consumption. Flax contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), dietary fiber, and lignans.

http://positively-healthy.com/a-beginners-guide-to-flaxseed/

My tip: Add 2 tablespoons to a glass of almond milk and drink within 30 minutes (or the milk will start to thicken). Flax is also well suited for baking, add 1 tablespoon to any recipe when you add flour.

Hemp

Hemp, Cannabis sativa L. and other non-drug varieties of Cannabis, commonly known as hemp were not previously commonly cultivated, but are becoming more popular. Technically hemp seeds are the nut of the plant. A diet rich with hemp has been shown to lead to increased energy, improved metabolism and immunity, reduced food cravings, and it can help lower blood pressure. Hemp also contain plant sterols that have been shown to reduce cholesterol.

**Interesting plant nerd side note** Two of Boulder’s favorite pass times find there origin in the Cannabaceae family: hops and hemp. #TheMoreYouKnow #DoHashtagsWorkHere?

http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2013/05/26/raw-tabouli-salad-with-hemp-seeds/#i.1cj27pxv9fjy

My tip: Add 1 tablespoon to smoothies, 1 tablespoons to oatmeal, 1 tablespoon to everything you eat, ever.

Definitions

Lignans – antioxidant compounds found in plants that seem to provide extra protection against many types of cancer, are anti-inflammatory, and may also help lower cholesterol levels.

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) – anti-inflammatory. Read more about the importance of balancing omega-3s and omega-6s 

Soluble and Insoluble Fiber – Put simply soluble fibers (those found in chia and flax) absorb water, helping to slow the absorption of sugar and cholesterol from foods, while insoluble fibers (those found in hemp) do not. Read more here.

I hope that clears up some of the confusion if there was any. My conclusion: all of these seeds can be beneficial additions to your diet and can be used in so many ways so, if the budget allows, having them all on hand is a good idea. If you have to choose just one, the price for flax can’t be beat, hemp is probably the most well-rounded health option and chia is a very fun alternative to try.

Did I miss anything? What is your favorite way to eat these healthy seeds? 

12 Weeks of Wellness: Freshen

We’re more than halfway through our 12 weeks of wellness; this week we’ll focus on the home and making your space safe, stress-free zone where you can find relaxation and comfort.

To freshen your space in a sustainable way, check out my Greening your Home Posts: Part 1 and Part 2

This week freshen: nest and take care of your space

The Perfect Ten: Mani-Pedi for the Earth Angel

I love going to the nail salon to get pampered, I’m sure I’m not the only one. It’s a little splurge that helps me relax and results in beautiful digits. Unfortunately, mani-pedis are not very Earth-friendly and, with the exception of the relaxed feeling that results, they aren’t very good for your body either. Just like so many other things that I love, I must add them to the bad list and replace them with an Earth-friendly option. (Yes, there is another way!)

Here’s the deal, the process from start to finish is chemical city. The pedicure sinks they soak your feet in must be disinfected using harsh, nonbiodegradable chemicals. Tools are shared between customers. It’s a green goddess’ nightmare (I just learned that green goddess is also a salad dressing, so I do not mean this nightmare to involve withered vegetables or anything like that, but hopefully the context was enough so you new that).

Über Chic is an eco-friendly salon in Edgewater, CO

On top of this the products used specifically for nails (at the salon or at home) go directly to your bloodstream (do not pass the liver, do not collect $200). It turns out that while your nails are hard, they are absorbent and therefore do not form good barriers (you might say they form better windows than doors).

Many nail polishes contain formaldehyde, which as you might remember from Cleanliness is Next to Godliness: Hair, is a carcinogen with many undesirable qualities. Dibutylphthalate is another common ingredients. See the phthalate hiding in that word? It’s another carcinogen and a hormone disruptor. The dibutyl form is a potential reproductive toxin and endocrine disruptor. You may also find the volatile organic carbon toluene, which is a neurotoxin.

Piggy Paint is a harsh-chemical free nail polish marketed for children, with ingredients as natural as mud.

The removers aren’t much better. According to the National Institutes of Health, acetone is a poison which can cause death; coma; unconsciousness; seizure; respiratory distress; kidney damage; nose, throat, lung and eye irritation; intoxication; headaches; fatigue; stupor; light-headedness; dizziness; confusion; increased pulse rate; nausea; vomiting; and shortening of the menstrual cycle in women. Most nail polish now state they are “non-acetone” but what do they replace this nail polish removing miracle poison with? Acetate.

It may be listed as ethyl acetate, amyl acetate or butyl acetate. It’s not as bad as the original stuff (acetone) but the fact that it’s “flammable” and the “vapor may ignite” and warns me to “keep out of eyes” and that it’s “harmful to synthetic fabrics, wood finishes, and plastics, makes me wonder, “If it’s not safe for my table how is it possibly safe for me?”

No Miss Inc. sells  healthy alternatives to beauty products at an affordable price.

What about the Earth? Good point, observant reader, I have not begun to discuss the impact these products have on the Earth. When nail polish and remover go down the drain they seep into and contaminate groundwater. Additionally, while the bottles are technically recyclable, the vast majority of nail polish bottles end up in the landfills where they leach out.

Now what!? Don’t cancel your appointment yet, as always I have solutions for your beauty needs.

• Check your city and regional magazines for local green salons and spas.
• Call or stop by some local salons and ask them the following questions:
• Do you use and carry eco-friendly products? Check ingredients and make sure you would use understand the ingredients.
• Do you employ water-saving practices, such as reusing rinse water?
• Do you use energy-efficient equipment?
• Do you use natural cleaning products and laundry detergents? Refer to greening your home part 3: cleaning supplies for information about what to look for.
• Do you recycle?
• Do you offer other eco-friendly services? They may not always use eco-friendly practices but they may offer services to people who ask.
• Consider skipping color and opting for a simply buff and shine treatment (the unnatural color just chips away in a few days anyway).
• If you love color, only use polishes which do not contain toluene, phthalates, or formaldehyde. You can find some at:
• Spa Ritual
• Firozé
• No Miss
• Piggy Paint – children’s polish
• Make sure your remover is acetone- and acetate-free. Try No Miss Vegan Nail Polish Remover (smells like vanilla!). While more and more salons are offering earth-friendly nail polishes, the remover is harder to find so take your color off at home.

What earth-friendly products do you use for a perfect ten?

No Fuss Ice Cream

The weather is cooling down so I’m trying to get as many frozen treats in before the outside becomes just as frozen. This Food Fun Friday recipe is for ice cream that you can make at home even if you don’t have an fancy smancy ice cream maker.

The basic recipe calls for one 14-oz can condensed milk, 1 pint whipping cream and 2 tsp. vanilla. You can add anything else you want for other flavors. I used Nutella because, well do I really need a reason?

Pour whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract into a large mixing bowl. Then use a mixer to whip it until stiff peaks form (5-8 minutes).

Warm 1/2 cup of Nutella in the microwave until liquidy (if you have a soften or melt button pre-programmed into your microwave use that. If not change the power to about 30% and microwave for 1 minute, checking occasionally.

Fold in melted Nutella.

Spoon in about another half cup of Nutella (not melted) and continue folding. To form swirls don’t mix in completely. Pour the mixture into a bread loaf pan. Cover and freeze for at least 8 hours before serving.

Feel free to lick the spoon, Nutella is the best thing on Earth.

Once frozen enjoy your delicious homemade treat.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? I think we’re all clear on what mine is. 🙂

12 Weeks of Wellness: Nourish

Last week I talked about nourishing your body through eating more vegetables. This week (the 6th week of wellness) nourish your body through something other than food. This is important on multiple levels. We eat when we’re hungry yes, but many people also eat when they’re thirsty, tired, watching TV or just when they’re bored. Discovering another way to use your time will not only distract you from the feeling of wanting to eat, but it will enrich your life.

This week nourish: focus on something other than food that fills you up

Click the week for more information on each of these topics that are important to your wellness:

Feedback Loops: Cynicism and Hope

Colorado is experiencing 1000 year flooding. The damage and destruction is unbelievable. My dad keeps saying that word, “Un—believable,” or, “Un—freaking—believable!” It reminds me of the movie, The Princess Bride, the character Vizzini keeps saying, “Inconceivable!” until finally Inigo Montoya says, “You keep saying this word, I do not think it means what you think it means.” Only in this case, with my dad, he knows what it means and it’s the best word to describe these disasters.

I know one storm cannot be definitively linked to climate change and it will take months of research to determine if climate change caused this storm to be more likely to occur. I can’t help but speculate that it is likely to have catalyzed  this, and all the other monster natural disasters that have occurred recently around the world. Storms of these calibers did not occur so frequently in history.

When things like this disaster happen we look at the world’s problems and have good intentions, we wish the problems will go away but when we see they stubbornly remain we react as if they are happening in a movie. People continue to starve, communities fall apart, violence thrives, families fade, nature disappears, and those unaffected continue in their daily lives.

At this point there are two options: hope and cynicism.

Diagrams adapted from A Better World Handbook by Ellis Jones, Ross Haenfler and Brett Johnson

The cycle of cynicism can be broken and replaced with a cycle of hope. When we find out about a problem that disturbs us, and when we decide we want to help, instead of giving up when we see no options, we should search for more information. We take actions that are in line with our own values, the vision of a better world can become a reality. If we stop blaming others for not doing anything and start taking personal responsibility for being good people. Finally, it’s important to recognize that we can’t do everything, otherwise we may fall back into a cycle of cynicism.

In ecology we talk about feedback loops. A positive feedback loop continues to build on itself. For example, climate change is a positive feedback loop: As temperatures warms, there is less snow and ice, this leads to more sunlight being absorbed by the land and the sea, which leads in turn to further warming. A negative feedback loop is a system that is kept in equilibrium such as the relationship between predator and prey populations: As the predators population increases they catch more and more prey causing the prey population to decline. With fewer prey to catch, predators begin to die off leaving a greater opportunity for the prey to regenerate their population. Now there are again more prey so the predator population increases again, forever and ever.

Both the cycles of hope and cynicism are positive feedback loops; one leads to apathy and the other leads to a better world. Which loop will you pick?

Abso-fruit-ly Yummy Smoothie Recipes

Last summer you may remember from my Backpacking For Dummies post that, due to wildfires and drought conditions, Colorado looked a little like this:

Well this September we have received 50% of our average annual precipitation within the last 48 hours, so now it looks a little more like this:

I know homes, businesses and people have experienced devastating loss over the past 2 days. I would like to express my sympathies to everyone who has been affected by this disaster.

So guess what this is. Just guess! okay fine I’ll tell you: this, yes this very thing that you are reading with your eyeballs, is my 100th post on Maggie’s Mind Mumbles!

Congratulations to me but mostly congratulations to you. You, who come here to my blog and read whatever nonsense gibberish I happen to feel like writing in the moment. I really appreciate it. (No, I’m not crying! Someone just poured water all over my face).

Not only is this post #100, it’s also Friday, which we all know is the best day of all the days. AND not only is it Friday, it’s Food Fun Friday (what a big day!) so it’s time to blend up some fun. Today’s recipes are berry good. Check out the 36 supercharged smoothies in the a-peel-ing infographic below!

These 36 are sub-lime aren’t they? But in case that’s not just peachy with you, here are just a few more grrrr–ape recipes.

• Banana – 2 frozen bananas, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup milk, 2 teaspoons honey, a pinch of cinnamon.
• Strawberry Banana – Same as above, replace one banana with a cup of frozen strawberries.
• Strawberry shortcake – 2 cups frozen strawberries, 1 cup crumbled pound cake, 1 and 1/2 cup milk, sugar to taste and top with whipped cream.
• Triple Berry – 1 and 1/2 cups frozen mixed blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/2 cup milk.
• Raspberry Orange – 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup frozen raspberries, 1/2 cup plain yogurt.

Food Network

• Peach Mango Banana – 1 cup frozen mangos, 1 cup frozen peaches, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 cup plain yogurt.
• Honeydew Almond – 2 cups frozen honeydew melon, 1 cup almond milk
• Cantaloupe – 2 cups frozen cantaloupe, juice of 1/2 lime, 1/2 cup water, sugar to taste.
• Carrot Apple – 1 cup carrot juice, 2 cups frozen apple.
• Kiwi Strawberry – 1 cup frozen strawberries, 2 peeled kiwis, sugar to taste.

Food Network

• Cherry Vanilla – 1 and 1/2 cup frozen cherries, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt.
• Tangerine Honey – 4 frozen tangerines, juice of 2 limes, 1/4 cup honey, 1 cup ice.
• Apricot Almond – 1 and 1/2 cups apricot nectar, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, 2 tablespoons almond butter.
• Grape – 2 cups frozen grapes, 1 cup grape juice.
• Blueberry Pear – 1 and 1/2 cups frozen blueberries, 1 frozen pear, 1 and 1/2 cup maple yogurt.

Food Network

• Banana Date Lime – 2 frozen bananas, 3/4 cup chopped frozen dates, the juice of 1 lime, 1 and 1/2 cup milk.
• Peach Ginger – 2 cups frozen peaches, 1 and 1/2 cups buttermilk, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon fresh ginger.
• Grapefruit – 1 frozen grapefruit, 1 cup grapefruit juice, 3 tablespoons sugar, a pinch of cinnamon. 
• Pomegranate Cherry – 1 cup frozen cherries, 3/4 cup pomegranate juice, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, a pinch of salt, a pinch of cinnamon. 
• Vietnamese Coffee – 1/2 cup chilled espresso or strong coffee, 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk, a pinch of cardamom, 1 and 1/2 cups ice.

Foor Network

• Blueberry Banana – 1 frozen banana, 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.
• Creamy pineapple -2 cups frozen pineapple, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cup milk, 2 teaspoons honey, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, a pinch of nutmeg, a pinch of salt.
• Peanut Butter Apple – 1 frozen apple, 3 tablespoons peanut butter, 2 tablespoons flaxseeds, 1 and 1/2 cup milk, honey to taste.
• Apple Ginger – 1 frozen apple, 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, the juice of 2 limes, 1/4 cup honey, 1 cup water.
• Creamsicle – 3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, 1/2 cup water, 1 cup vanilla frozen yogurt.

Food Network

• Lemon Poppyseed – 2 teaspoons poppyseeds, the zest and juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup milk, sugar to taste.
• Mango Acai – 8 ounces frozen acai, 1 cup frozen mango, 1 cup orange juice.
• Mexican Coffee – 1/2 cup chilled espresso or strong coffee, 1/2 cup milk, 3 and 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon almond extract, 1 and 1/2 cups ice.
• Banana PB&J – 1 cup frozen banana, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup wheat germ, 2 tablespoons jelly.
• Black Raspberry Vanilla – 1 pint frozen blackberries, 1/2 cup frozen raspberries, 1 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 tablespoon honey.

Food Network

• Chocolate Raspberry – 1 cup raspberries, 1 cup chocolate frozen yogurt, 3/4 cup milk.
• Pomegranate Berry – 1 cup frozen blueberries, 3/4 cup beet juice, 3/4 cup pomegranate juice, honey to taste.
• Cucumber Kale – 1 and 3/4 cup vegetable juice ice cubes, 1/2 cucumber, 3 kale leaves, the juice of 1/2 lemon.
• Pineapple Mango – 1 cup frozen pineapple, 1 cup frozen mango, 1 cup coconut water, a pinch of allspice.
• Peanut Butter Banana – 1 frozen banana, 1 cup vanilla yogurt, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup milk, 2 tablespoons malted milk powder, 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder, a pinch of salt.

Food Network

• Oatmeal Cookie – 1 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 cup milk, 1 cup oats, 1 teaspoon flaxseed, a pinch of cinnamon, top with a cookie.
• Chocolate Banana – 1 banana, 1 cup chocolate frozen yogurt, 1/2 cup milk, a pinch of salt.
• Apple Spinach – 2 cups spinach, 1 frozen apple, 1/2 cup silken tofu, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup orange juice, 1 tablespoon wheatgerm, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
• Mint Jalapeno – 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, 1 jalepeno pepper, 2 and 1/2 tablespoons honey, a pinch of salt, 2 cups plain yogurt, top with toasted cumin seeds and cilantro.
• Cucumber Honeydew Mint – 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 frozen honeydew melon, 1 cup pear juice, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1/4 cup mint leaves.

Food Network

• Strawberry Maple – 2 cups frozen strawberries – 1 and 1/2 cups milk, 1/ cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup wheat germ, a pinch of cinnamon.
• Birthday Cake – 1 and 1/2 cups vanilla frozen yogurt, 1/4 cup wheat germ, 1 cup milk, juice of 1 lemon, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, top with sprinkles.
• Carrot Mango Herb – 1 cups frozen mango, 1/2 cup carrot juice, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup mint, tarragon or basil.
• Blueberry Banana Spinach – 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1 cup spinach, 1 tablespoon flaxseed, 1/2 frozen banana.
• Banana Split – 1 frozen banana, 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, 1 cup yogurt, 1 cup milk.

Food Network

Smoothie making is a science and a tricky balancing act. The best rule of thumb is to include one frozen ingredient and one liquid ingredient in whatever combination you want. I like to freeze the fruit because I find it is hard to keep fruit from going bad in the summer when fresh is available and it’s cheaper in the winter to buy frozen. You can freeze juices, teas, coffees, etc. into cubes and use that or plain water cubes as well.

Practice makes perfect and soon you will find a routine that works well for you. Play with these recipes and concoct your own to really get into the smoothie making s-pear-it.

12 Weeks of Wellness: Boost

I love vegetables! I think they are crisp and refreshing and vegetables provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body. So add a few more to your diet throughout this, the 5th week on our journey toward wellness.

Tips:

There are many ways you can introduce more veggies into your diet. I will list a few here but for a printable list you can hang on your refrigerator click here.

• Buy vegetables in season, when they are cheapest and at the peak of their flavor.
• Stock up on frozen veggies that are simply a microwave zap away from eating.
• Plan meals around vegetables, like a stir-fry, add other food to supplement.
• Try a veggie salad for a meal.
• Add shredded zucchini and carrots to meatloaf, casserole, quick bread and muffins.
• Make your vegetables more appealing by serving them with dip.

This week boost: make sure to eat at least three vegetables each day

Click the week for more information on each of these topics that are important to your wellness.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness – Hair Care

You may have heard that a “green” beauty routine is no beauty routine at all. For extremists this is probably true, but I’m not an extremist: I like my skin to feel soft, I like my hair to shine, I like playing with makeup. If you are like me and want your eco-friendly lifestyle to continue into the bathroom (or wherever your beauty regimen takes place) then read on. If you aren’t like me you can still read on, we don’t discriminate here.

Here at Maggie’s Mind Mumbles, I frequently discuss that what we’re putting IN our bodies should be whole, unprocessed foods. For the products we put ON our bodies can affect us just as much, if not more. While it seems as if the products like lotion and makeup sit on the surface of the skin or products are washed away as with soap and shampoo, the chemicals are actually absorbed directly into the bloodstream without being detoxified in the liver.

With that said, we’ll start at the top and work our way down. Today…

Hair

Your lovely locks are the accessory you wear everyday so it’s understandable that you want your hair to look nice and you want to use products that promote beautiful hair.

Look at the ingredients list on most shampoo bottles. You may find these invading your bottle:

Not only are these, and the other chemicals I haven’t listed here, damaging your body but they are also wrecking havoc on the environment. Additionally, these shampoos are often sold in PVC bottles (I really need to write a blog about why PVC is the worst because it keeps coming up and I keep having to just ask you to take my word for it).

So to help you remember not to buy products with these ingredients I have crafted a downloadable cheat sheet that will fit in your wallet. That way you won’t have to try to remember these scary names.

Aided with your cheat sheet you can find plenty of shampoos that don’t contain offending ingredients but will still leave you with hair that is smooth, strong and shiny. Oh, and smells good too, that’s an important one. You can find healthy shampoos at health food stores, the organic section of most supermarkets and some are even finding their way into drugstores. They range in price from cheap to steep.

Source: http://www.collegefashion.net/

I currently use Alba Botanica body builder mango. I found it in the shampoo aisle at a Safeway (conventional grocery store). The bottle was paid from 100% recyclable materials and it is free of all the harmful ingredients listed above. It also smells like a Hawai’ian rainforest and costs less than $10. I condition with a rare treasure I happened across on a quick bathroom break on my way to work. I remembered I needed conditioner so I picked some up. Ology is a Walgreens brand free of bad guys and loaded with good guys. I grabbed the volumizing and softening grapefruit and eucalyptus (can you tell that my hair needs more volume?) It’s pretty great and for $6 I can’t complain.

Other great brands include:

• Hugo – try Vanilla & Sweet Orange Shampoo
• Aubrey Organics – Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner is fabulous
• Burt’s Bees – Terrific shampoos and conditioners
• John Masters Organics – Have yet to try these friend recommended shampoos and conditioners
• Tween Beauty – I know I’m totes not the target demographic but I want all my BFFs to try Orange Sherbet Shampoo and Vanilla Bean Conditioner LOL

Just a few tips – check that the package is made from recycled materials (I will never stop saying this), be sure that the label says certified organic because organic is not a regulated term in the beauty world and make sure you like the scent (that probably goes with out saying but there are some ick smelling healthy shampoos out there).

Which shampoo and conditioner can you not live without?

Roasted Veggie Quinoa Salad (but mostly bugs)

My job with Parks and Open Space requires a lot of hiking. And when I say a lot I mean A LOT. On average I hike 4 miles every work day. And let me tell you the main thing I have noticed on my many, lengthy hikes through the plains and foothills of Boulder County. There are approximately thousands of different kinds of insects out there in the great outdoors (for once I may have been modest).

I promise there is a recipe in this post; it’s Food Fun Friday after all. I should be giving you a recipe or at least discussing why the food you’re eating is probably killing you slowly or something. First I would like to thoroughly ruin your appetite (just be glad I didn’t include pictures) by talking about insects, the least appetizing things I can think of.

Just a preview of what’s to come

I am going to be highly non-scientific for a minute so entomologists cover your ears. I have classified these insects I have encountered into five categories: the gross ones, the lovely ones, the dumb ones, the mean ones and the pesky ones.

The Gross Ones

These are the bugs that make me squirm: Spiders (I know not insects) and earwigs. But mostly spiders.

The Lovely Ones

The only bugs I will classify here are butterflies (or flutterbys as they should be called) because they are very nice to look at and they are curious but shy creatures who want to know what your business is in their neighborhood but won’t stay too close.

The Dumb Ones

Bugs that fall under this category include grasshoppers, cicadas and flies. I can’t tell you how many cicadas I have seen fly head first into the side of a hill or a tree trunk. They make a surprisingly loud crunch on impact then they take off again, apparently unscathed, on their journey. While I do enjoy the variety of colors you find, grasshoppers are especially dumb. when frightened, are critters that take flight (rather than stay and fight) and for some reason seem to think jumping right into my shins is the way toward safety. I’m sure you’ve used an outhouse at a trailhead at some point and know them to be often full of flies. Well they all panic when you come in and you hold the door open for them to escape into the wild and they just fly around frantically and never find the source of the fresh air.

The Mean Ones

This is the classification that encompasses wasps, hornets and biting flies. The ones that are just out to get you and leave a painful blemish behind. I haven’t been stung recently but I remain wary of these nasty buggers. Biting flies remain the bane of my existence; they are all just out to get me.

The Pesky Ones

These are the insects where the word bug comes from. They just bug the heck out of you. Mosquitoes for instance are extremely persistent and have that distinct buzz that really grinds my gears. I know they are just trying to survive by sucking my precious blood but seriously do they have to leave the obnoxious itchy red bump behind? I haven’t yet figure out what kind of fly it is that likes to circle my head as I hike 20 feet before flying off but when I do, they better watch out!

So, to return from my tangential story about pests; here is the promised recipe for quinoa and roasted vegetable salad for your enjoyment…

Start by cooking quinoa to package specifications. Chop up any veggies you find in your pantry. I used zucchini, summer squash, onions, carrots and potatoes. Toss all the vegetables together in a large bowl with 3 cloves of minced garlic, 1 Tbsp Herbs de Provence (buy herb mix or make your own), 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1/2 tsp salt. Then spread in a baking dish.

Bake for 30 minutes at 450°F stirring halfway through. Mix veggies in with quinoa and lemon dressing (juice and zest of one lemon, 2 Tbsp EVOO, 1 Tbsp Herbs de Provence) serve with chicken, or other protein, or by itself, whatever you want… what do I know? All I want to talk about is insects.

buzzz buzzz buzzzzzzzzz

12 Weeks of Wellness: Unplug

It’s the 4th week of wellness and we’re focusing on how we can unplug from distractions such as technology.

Modern technology is wonderful in many ways. We can communicate with friends and family all around the world. We can get instant updates about world news, sports and events. There are thousands of facets to boost creativity. Job searches have never been easier. Research can be done with a click of a mouse. But with great power comes great responsibility. We have so many things we need to check and update and learn about and watch and read and on and on and on that sometimes we forget about the things happening around us, in the real world outside of cyberspace.

This week unplug: disconnect from unnecessary technology

Click the week for more information on why these are important to your wellness

All that Glitters May Not Be Your Friend

This may surprise Marilyn, but diamonds are not a girl’s best friend and all that glitters is not gold, or green for that matter. Okay, I’ll stop, enough cliches for today.

 
Mining for minerals needed for jewelry is not an environmental practice. In fact, mining for these natural elements consumes huge amounts of energy, releases pollutants and greenhouse gases into the air, allows toxic chemicals to seep into groundwater, damages land, speeds up erosion and generates and unbelievable amount of waste. Metal mining was the number one toxic polluter in the United States in 2008 (as of 2010), responsible for more that 25 percent of all reported toxic releases.

In addition to the environmental hazards, mining is also associated with socially devastating practices. Diamonds fund violence against citizens, especially in African countries such as Angola and Sierra Leone. The United Nations defines conflict diamonds as, “diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.”

http://www.jewellerynetasia.com/en/Blog/345/Conflict_Diamonds_are_only_1__You_Believe_this_.html

Gold-mining is one of the dirtiest practices in the world. Gold mining conditions are dangerous for workers, it is responsible for three percent of work deaths globally. Additionally, the average gold mine uses enough water to provide the basic water needs for a population equivalent to that of a large U.S. city for a year. The open pits are required to be enormous (the largest is the Bingham Canyon mine in Utah is visible from outer space) destroying beautiful landscapes, wildlife habitat and important ecosystems.

Are you outraged? You probably should be, otherwise you must not like animals…

No Dirty Gold is a campaign that is working toward stopping dirty mining practices around the world and to prevent the sale of gold that has been mined in an unsustainable way. 

But don’t fret, you can still get your bling on and all that. Here’s the part in the blog post where I inform you of where you can buy earth-conscious jewelry:

• The best option is always to buy used. Find jewelry at antique, consignment and thrift stores or your grandma’s jewelry box.
• Green Karat – synthetic gems and recycled metals.
• Brilliant Earth – recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds for engagement and wedding bands.
• Leber Jeweler – Earthwise line of conflict-free gems and reclaimed metals.
• Tiffany – conflict-free diamonds and responsible metal mining, oh and those little blue boxes are made from Forest Stewardship Council certified paper.

Ohio Buckeye Protein Bites

It’s Food Fun Friday (which, let’s face it, is every Friday) and I will share with you an alteration of a recipe that is a family favorite: Ohio Buckeye Cookies.

Inspiration for these cookies hit me on the head, literally, as I was on a walk. There is a tree called an Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) which can be identified, according to my tree identification book:

“Leaves have 5 to 7 short-stemmed, lanceolate leaflets, each 4 to 6 inches long and 0.5 to 1.5 inches wide. The yellow flowers, hairy below and with stamens longer than the petals, are borne in erect panicles, 5 to 7 inches long. The capsule, about 2 inches in diameter are spiny on the surface and usually enclose two seeds, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Brown bark is fissured and scaly. Grows 50 to 90 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet in diamet; crown oblong, rounded. Also leaves and twigs have an unpleasant odor when bruised.“

Which probably means very little to most of you but, the plant nerd that I am, I couldn’t leave out any of those details.

It was this very nut that fell from it’s lofty branch and hit me squarely on the top of my head. Like Isaac Newton before me, I was struck with an idea (although I will not claim that my idea will change the course of science as we know it) and a craving for the buckeye cookies my grandma makes.

When I came home I looked up the recipe for this delectable treat. I was surprised by the amount of sugar added to many of the recipes I found and decided to work out a recipe for more of a protein bite in favor of this sugar packed morsel.

These are the ingredients I used.

Add peanut butter, rice milk and seeds to a medium sized bowl.

Stir until everything is mixed together. The mixture should be very sticky, but not liquidy at all. 

Using a spoon and your hands, form 1-2 inch balls out of the mixture and place them on wax paper to keep them from sticking. 

Put in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Once the peanut butter balls are chilled, remove them from the freezer.

Melt your chocolate over a stovetop or using a microwave, being careful not to burn the chocolate. 

While the chocolate is still melted, dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate, covering them completely. 

Return the chocolate covered peanut butter protein balls to the wax paper. 

Return to the freezer for 4 hours (or overnight). Store in refrigerator. Makes about 24 small peanut butter protein balls.

Ingredients:

• 1 jar (16 oz) natural peanut butter (I use chunky, but if you prefer smooth, use that)
• 6-8 tablespoons rice milk (any other kind of milk should work fine too)
• 6 tablespoons hemp seed, flax seed or chia seed
• 6.4 oz dark chocolate, or about two regular sized chocolate bars (85% or higher cacao is ideal, I used Chocolove)

Directions:

Add peanut butter, almond milk and protein powder to a medium sized bowl. Stir until everything is mixed together. The mixture should be very sticky, but not liquidy at all. Using a spoon and your hands, form 1-2 inch balls out of the mixture and place them on wax paper to keep them from sticking. Put in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Once the peanut butter balls are chilled, remove them from the freezer and melt your chocolate over a stovetop or using a microwave, being careful not to burn the chocolate. While the chocolate is still melted, dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate, covering them completely. Return the chocolate covered peanut butter protein balls to the wax paper and return to the freezer for 4 hours (or overnight). Store in refrigerator. Makes about 24 small peanut butter protein balls.

And now for the poem that comes in every Chocolove chocolate bar:

Strong Dark

 

Sonnet 75

So are you to my thoughts as food to life,

Or as sweet-seasoned showers are to the ground;

And for the peace of you I hold such strife

As ‘twixt a miser and his wealth is found.

Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon

Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure,

Now counting best to be with you alone,

Then bettered that the world may see my pleasure,

Sometimes all full with feasting on your sight,

And by and by clean starved for a look,

Possessing or pursuing no delight

Save what is had, or must from you be took.

Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day,

Or gluttoning on all, or all away.

William Shakespeare 

12 Weeks of Wellness: Stretch

The third week of wellness is upon us and this week we’ll be focusing on stretching, moving, activity. Of course you’ll want to keep up with the good habits you’ve been developing so don’t forget to continue hydrating and getting enough rest.

Exercise is important to a healthy lifestyle for many reasons, regardless of your age, sex, or physical ability.

Mayo Clinic

To accomplish this week’s wellness goal you’ll need to try a new form of exercise. A few ideas include: yoga, walking during your breaks at work or school, running, lifting weights, swimming, etc. The idea is to try something you maybe have been wanting to try but haven’t for whatever reason.

You can check out my Fitness Page for a few ideas if you are unsure about where to start.

This week stretch: try a new form of exercise

Click the week for more information on why these are important to your wellness

Paper or Plastic?

The other day I watched a white plastic bag lazily float through the air as I was waiting at a stop light. It has an odd sort of beauty in the grace with which it moves. The wind catches in little pockets and it inflates, then as the wind shifts it flattens and picks up speed. Bits of it get caught on fence posts, branches and car antennae causing it to cartwheel as it makes its way to whatever destination it is fated to reach. Then I snapped out of my reverie and realized what a terrible crime this bag represents.

It’s a mystery to me why people continue to choose plastic bags at the store when they accumulate at home faster than second uses can be developed for them. Not to mention their tendency to blow away, as mentioned, creating litter, or the fact that they hold relatively few items for their size. Whatever the reason, they continue to be used by the general public.

Did you know that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), close to a trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each years? The United States alone used about one hundred billion of those, which comes out to almost one thousand plastic bags per U.S. household per year. If one household cuts out plastic bags, this could actually make a noticeable dent.

It takes twelve million barrels of oil to produce the plastic bags the U.S. alone uses each years and fewer than 3 percent are recycled. This means they wind up in landfills where they can take hundreds of years to decompose. Or they end up in rivers and oceans where they choke and poison about one hundred thousand whales, birds, and other aquatic life each year, or act as rafts carrying foreign species to new ecosystems.

Going Green – Plastic Island in the Pacific

I once thought paper bags were more environmentally-friendly-ish because they are biodegradable. Nope. Making ten billion paper bags (about the number of grocery bags United Statesians use in a year) requires fourteen million trees to be cut down because they require virgin fibers to hold up to heavy groceries. On top of that, pulp and paper mills are among the worst polluters of air, water and land of any manufacturing industry.

There is a hidden option, it’s like the elusive third door that no one tells you about but really has the best prizes if you just take a wild stab and guess it. Reusable cloth bags! By far the best solution to the bag crisis in the US.

Sophie World

The tough part is remembering to bring them with you. Practice makes perfect so keep trying. Here are some techniques you might want to try:

• Doorknob – Attach at least one, if not more than one, reusable shopping bag to the doorknob you most often leave through. You have to literally touch them in order to get out of the house.
• Car – Designate a box in your car to store a few reusable bags. Now you only have to remember to get them into the store.
• Purse – There are many options of reusable bags which are small enough to stick in your purse or pocket. There’s no excuse for not using it if you’ve been carrying it around with you.
• Make a note – Stick a note anywhere you’re likely to see it –on the mirror, on your dashboard, on your forehead– to remind yourself.
• All of the above – If you’re like me then you’ve probably accumulated dozens of reusable bags at festivals, fairs and events. I keep my bags anywhere and everywhere.

As an added incentive many places across the US either give to a discount for using your own bags or expect you to pay for the store’s plastic or paper bags you use. So if being a Earth-saving superhero isn’t enough, maybe money will convince you.

How do you remember your reusable bags when shopping?

6 Real Food Kitchen Staples

In an effort to both save money and cut out processed food further I learned to make my own kitchen staples. In this post I will share a few recipes for items I like to make at home instead of buying the bottled-version in store (for less cost to boot).

*Here’s a tip: save your old condiment and spice containers to use as storage. 

Homemade Ketchup 

I love ketchup; it could be considered it’s own food group in my opinion (If I could live on ketchup and cinnamon I would… not necessarily mixed together). The ingredient list for Heinz actually isn’t that bad (especially if you buy the simply ketchup version, which doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup) but this homemade version is much cheaper.

Six in the Suburbs

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces Tomato Paste
• 1/2 cup Dark Brown Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Dry Ground Mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1/2 scant teaspoon Cinnamon
• 2 pinches of Ground Clove
• 2 pinches of Allspice
• 1 pinch of Cayenne Pepper
• 2/3 cup Water
• 4 tablespoons White Wine Vinegar

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Store in an airtight container overnight for maximum marriage of flavors.

Homemade Mustard 

As much as I like ketchup is about the amount that I don’t like mustard. But I’m told that other people like mustard for some reason so I decided to include it. It’s actually fun to make mustard because you can use really whatever spices you like.

My research actually didn’t turn up any store-bought mustard’s that contain “bad” ingredients (even the store-brand) but I’m told that the better the mustard the higher the expense so now you can make gourmet mustard for a fraction of the cost.

Relishing It

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup yellow mustard seeds 
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar 
• 1/3 cup water 
• 1 1/2 tsp. sugar 
• Your pick of spices (to taste), optional

Directions:
Soak the mustard seeds in the vinegar and water, making sure the seeds are covered by the liquid. Leave soaking for 2 days.

Add the sugar and spices (allspice and turmeric are boyfriend’s preference) to the seeds mixture. Begin with about 1 tsp. of each spice. Blend mixture until it reaches desired consistency, adding water if needed. Let it sit in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a day or two before trying it out.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

This Old El Paso Taco Seasoning isn’t actually representative of the whole market. You can buy McCormick’s if you don’t want to make your own spice mix. I’m always partial to making it myself because I can use more or less to suit my own taste. In addition to being perfect for tacos, this mix is great for flavoring burgers and chili. See how I used this mix in Rainbow Chicken Fajitas.

Homemade Barbeque Sauce  

I also a huge fan of barbecue sauce. I like it like I like my men: hot and smoky (haha just kidding, sorta). My favorite brand is Stubb’s which is tangier (and less unhealthy) than most. Barbecue sauce, in general, has a lot of sugar in it so making your own can really cut down on this. You can also, as with everything else in this list, customize the flavor profile.

Food Network

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 
• 1 1/2 cups ketchup (you can use your homemade ketchup or store-bought) 
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 
• 1/2 cup water 
• 2 tablespoons honey 
• 2 1/2 tablespoons dry mustard 
• 2 teaspoons paprika 
• 2 teaspoons salt 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper 
• 2 dashes hot pepper sauce  

Directions:
Combine all ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves. Store in an airtight container. To make it smoky tasting add 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke per 1 cup sauce. For a spicier sauce add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper per 1 cup of sauce.

Homemade Salsa

For me, making salsa is more about flavor than anything else (including ingredients or cost). I’ve just about had it with the stuff you can buy at the grocery store. Click through to the tutorial for my favorite salsa recipe.

Homemade Ranch Dressing 

Ranch Dressing is one of those sauces that we like to put on pretty much everything. As you can see above the list ingredient in store-bought variety is pretty extensive. Here is a recipe for ranch in which you can really customize every piece of it.

You can use fresh or dried herbs. Depending on how you like your ranch (more creamy or more tangy) you can play with the quantities of mayonnaise (creamy) and yogurt (tangy) or you can use sour cream in place of yogurt. I’ve tried this recipe with buttermilk (which further enhances the tanginess), 1% milk (which is somewhat of a non-flavor), almond milk (my favorite, it rounds out the flavor in my opinion) and soymilk (sort of adds a sweetness). Finally, I have listed just a few optional ingredients you could use to further personalize your ranch; really there are probably hundreds.

Barefeet in the Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 1 Clove (to 2 Cloves) Garlic 
• Salt (to taste) 
• 1/4 cup Italian Flat-leaf Parsley 
• 2 Tablespoons Fresh Chives 
• 1/2 cup(Real) Mayonnaise 
• 1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt 
• Milk (to desired consistency) 
• Other optional ingredients (to taste): White Vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce, Fresh Dill, Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Fresh Oregano, Tabasco etc.

Directions:
Crush garlic into a paste with a fork. Finely mince parley and chives. Whisk together the mayonnaise and yogurt. Add milk to desired consistency. Next, stir in garlic, parsley and chives. Add mix in seasonings to taste. Store in an air-tight container in fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Well there you have it. Six new condiment recipes to add to your arsenal of real food eating. Happy Friday!

12 Weeks of Wellness: Rest

As we continue on our 12 week program toward physical wellness keep up your good hydration habits but add this next weeks focus to your routine. Today we’re talking about rest and why it’s important.

Here is an infographic I created with the same information found on the previous “Sleep is Awesome!” infographic. Enjoy your new-found learning about sleep and why it’s important!

This week rest: wind down early and stick to a regular sleep schedule this week.

Click the week for more information on why these are important to your wellness

Greening Your Home Part 3: Cleaning Supplies

 An unquestionable certainty of life, much like death and taxes, is that your home will always need cleaning. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself, “But I’ve just cleaned this!” And like so many other things that we use without really thinking conventional cleaners are not very good for the environment. They release volatile organic compounds and other toxic chemical’s which remain on surfaces in your home and evaporate into the air.

Read: Part 1 (Big Purchases) and Part 2 (Decorating)

Did you know that the air inside your home, if you use conventional cleaners, is two to five times more polluted than the air outside your home? What’s more is that these chemicals are seeping out of our homes — not that we really wanted to keep them inside — and polluting ground water and air. Additionally, these chemicals are related to 10% of the toxic exposures, through contact or ingestion, reported to US poison control centers.

If every household in America replaced one bottle of conventional cleaner with an ecofriendly product, that would prevent 11 million pounds of VOCs from entering the environment.

Pinterest is always a great source for homemade cleaners, using various combinations of lemon juice, vinegar, borax etc. for specific household chores (if you do make your own products, NEVER mix with conventional cleaners as this can have fatal results, and be sure to label any leftovers). But if you’re an all-purpose cleaner gal like I am, good news: the market for household cleaners that are both effective and earth-friendly is booming!

A few brand of cleaners to check out:

• Method
• Seventh Generation
• Planet
• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day
• Greenhome.com is a great place to look for paper products, cleaners, and detergents as well as everything from vacuums to armiores

Use cleaning products that:

• list their ingredients
• contain no chlorine, anything that starts with chlor, or ammonia (hydrogine peroxide can be used in lieu of bleach)
• are certified biodegradable and free of synthetic chemicals
• come in recyclable packaging
• for soaps and detergents – no phosphates or anything derived from petroleum

 
How are you planning to change your cleaning habits for a healthier body and Earth? 

Birthday Peach Snickerdoodles

Right before my birthday in June my co-worker Sally asked me ever so sneakily, “If someone were to make you cookies or cupcakes what would be your favorite flavor?” I answered Snickerdoodles because I lurve cinnamon oh so very much. On my birthday, I arrived at work and this was waiting in my cubicle.

The fish is an inside joke

So, as her birthday approached in August I wanted to return the gesture. Equally sneakily, I asked, “If you had to choose your favorite cake, pie or cookie flavor what would you choose?” She said peach pie and snickerdoodle cookies. Being the genius that I am, I combined the two.

Fortunately, it is currently peach season and my dad had just brought a box of peaches home with him from the western slope. In order to use them before spoiling my mom busily made peach jam, peach salsa, peach cobbler etc. and I made peach snickerdoodles.

This recipe makes 3.5 dozen cookies, which is a lot but I gave away about half. You could probably half the recipe but it was too complicated for me to figure out.

Select four medium peaches

 

Peel and dice (I used a knife, but blanching or a peeler would work too)

Add 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup margarine, 2 eggs and 1 1/2 cup sugar to a food processor

Mix well, then add half of the diced peaches

Mix 4 cups flour, 2 teaspoon cream of tarter, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoon in a large mixing bowl

Add pureed peach mixture

Mix until evenly blended

Add remaining peaches

Fold peaches into batter. Batter will be very wet. Dollop spoonfuls onto greased, parchment paper-covered cookie sheets. Sprinkle with mixture of 4 teaspoon cinnamon  and 4 tablespoon sugar. Cook at 400°F for 11 minutes or until just browned on top. Cookies will be soft.

Let cool on wire racks.

Make a lovely birthday card and deliver to recipient.

Hahaha I crack myself up!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, unsalted, room temperature, cubed
• 1/2 margarine, room temperature, spoonfuls
• 1 1/2 cups plus 4 Tb sugar, divided use
• 2 eggs
• 3 3/4 cups flour, sifted
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 fresh peaches, peeled, seeded, diced, divided use
• 2 tsp plus 4 tsp cinnamon, divided use

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400. Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Using a food processor, cream together the butter, shortening, 1 1/2 cups of sugar and the eggs. Add half of the diced peaches and puree until smooth. In a large bowl combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Stir in the creamed ingredients from the food processor. Fold in the remaining diced peaches. In a smaller bowl combine the remaining 4 tablespoons of sugar and the cinnamon. Drop a rounded tablespoon of cookie batter (the batter is very moist) onto the cookie sheets about 2″ apart. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture and bake for 11 minutes.

Happy Friday!

12 Weeks of Wellness: Hydrate

On Workout Wednesday I usually produce or re-produce a printable workout. But this week, and for the next eleven weeks I’d like to also focus on wellness: Wellness Wednesday. Because that’s more important than fitness. So to be come simply well I believe the first step is hydration. Water is a source of life for every species on this planet. Without this miracle molecule none of this beautiful blue planet would exist as it is (there would probably be robot llamas and volcanic acid would be the life juice, in fact according to the theory of infinite universes this probably exists).

Anyway, did you know that water makes up over half of your body weight? Your body uses water in many ways. Water cushions and lubricates joints; nourishes and protects the brain, spinal cord and other tissues; helps regulate the body’s temperature; and helps remove waste through perspiration, bowel movements and urination. 

There can be serious problems if you over-hydrate, which is called hyponatremia, or under-hydrate, which leads to dehydration. So check you pee: clear = drink less, dark = drink more.

Additionally, it is not completely true that water is your only source for hydration. Tea, coffee, fruit and vegetable juices, and even sports drinks and sodas can contribute to your daily water needs. However, these substances also add calories and sugars to your systems, which is an added consideration.

Tips for staying hydrated

• Keep a bottle of water with you during the day. Consider carrying a reusable water bottle and filling it from the tap rather than purchasing bottled water, which is expensive and creates plastic bottle waste.
• If plain water doesn’t interest you, try adding fruit such as lemon, lime, watermelon, orange or cucumber to your drink.
• If you’re going to be exercising, make sure you drink water before, during and after your workout.
• Start and end your day with a glass of water.
• When you’re feeling hungry, drink water. The sensation of thirst is often confused with hunger. True hunger will not be satisfied by drinking water. Drinking water may also contribute to a healthy weight loss plan, as some research suggests drinking water will help you feel full.
• Drink on a schedule if you have trouble remembering to drink water. For example, drink water when you wake up; at breakfast, lunch and dinner; and when you go to bed. Or drink a small glass of water at the top of each hour.

This week hydrate: sip smart and drink more water! 

Click the week for more information on each of these topics that are important to your wellness.

Buying Food: The naked truth about organic and local

Food. It is essential to life and some (ie. me) may say to happiness. But there are a few things you should be thinking about if you want to live sustainably.

Organic

Producers earn the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) “organic” label by using no chemical pesticides, growth-enhancing chemicals, or genetic modification on their crops. The USDA “organic” label is assigned to livestock farmers who avoid steroids, hormones and antibiotics; use organically grown feed and treat livestock humanely. It is also common for organic farmers to use renewable resources, conserve water and maintain or improve soil quality.

Unfortunately, organic food is often (always) more expensive than conventional food. There are, of course, reasons for this: employers may pay workers lower wages in conventional farming operations, chemicals increase crop yield, organic foods are often produced on a smaller scale etc. But if you are unable to switch completely to organic start small buy purchasing organics that are comparable in price to the conventional counterpart. I’ve said it before, but it’s important to remember, you can vote with your money and stores take notice of what you buy.

Therefore, if you buy organic food you have the potential to:

• lessen cruelty to animals
• avoid consuming health-threatening chemicals
• prevent damaging pesticides from entering the environment
• help maintain soil fertility for future generations
• shift the market toward more affordable organic products

Alternatively, organic foods are not:

• more flavorful
• higher in nutrient
• cures for the common cold
• the fountain of youth
• preferred diets of unicorns

So get off your high horse (insert Umbridge-ian *hem hem*, unicorn).

On the other hand, organic foods are not always better (side note: I always knew it was time to pay attention in school when a word was emphasized with bold, italic AND underline *hint, hint*). Threw you a curve ball there didn’t I? For the most part, as I’ve described, organic foods are better for the environment. However, if the food has to travel very far to reach it’s destination, we measure this in food miles. In some cases, conventionally grown food that was grown locally can be less detrimental to the environment than organically grown food that has traveled a great distance. Which brings us to the topic of eating locally.

Local

Support your local community and economy by shopping at smaller, locally owned markets and farmer’s markets. It’s a little more expensive: big companies can charge less because they sell such a vast quantity, so small grocers have a hard time competing. Local harvest is a website, which helps you locate food co-ops, farmer’s markets, CSA or local farms in your area.

If you cannot afford to spend more for less, there are sections or products within the large multinational companies labeled locally grown (here in Colorado it say, “Colorado grown” or “Colorado raised”).

Food Cooperatives (Co-ops) are non-profit business owned by their members. Anyone can shop there, but by becoming a member you receive discounts on purchases and decision making abilities for the future of the business. Find your local food cooperative through Co-op Directory Service.

Farmer’s Markets are locally run, seasonal, open-air markets that showcase local growers. Farmer’s markets build community through the one-on-one interaction and education of the producer and the consumer. You can find local farmer’s markets through the USDA Marketing Service.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a subscription to fresh fruits and vegetables. On the same day every week you stop by a shop to pick up your box of fresh produce. You can choose the box size based on budget and cooking habits and you dollars go straight the the family farm — no middleman. The Robyn Van En Center for CSA Resources can direct you to the CSA nearest to you.

You can also grow some, most or all of your own food at your home depending on your space. My mom mentioned in the comments below (Thanks mom!) that Grow Lawns, Not Food is a great resource for people wishing to pursue this option. For the urban agriculturalist (or anyone really, I’m not exclusive), check out my small-space gardening posts: Hanging Gutter Part 1 (my adventure in Home Depot), Hanging Gutter Part 2 (when I actually put the thing together), and Small Space Gardening on a Budget (where I show you my apartment balcony garden).

And now the moment of truth… Where does your preferred supermarket land on the Better World Shopper rating scale?

Ranked based on five factors: Human Rights, The Environment, Animal Protection, Community Involvement and Social [A Companies – are social and environmental leaders][B Companies – tend to be mainstream companies taking social/environmental responsibility seriously][C Companies – have either mixed social and environmental records or insufficient data to rank them][D Companies – engage in practices that have significant negative impact on people and the planet][F Companies – have the worst social and environmental records]

Thigh Pyramid

I’m not really sure what happened, but sadly the writing for this post got lost and replaced with Your Best Butt forward. All my genius is just gone forever. *le sigh*

Anyway, The printable workout is still here and that’s probably what you came here for anyway. Sooooooooooo… enjoy:

Download the printable version here.

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Below is a description of how to do these workout moves. For a full list you can check out my glossary here. You can also find more printable workouts by clicking here.

Squat

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, bend your knees slowly until your upper legs are parallel with the floor and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Your chest should be slightly forward and your knees should not extend past your toes. Immediately return to standing with arms by side. 

Lunge

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Take a big step forward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg. 

Toe Touches 

Stretch out your lower back and butt muscles. Stand with feet hip-width distance apart. Stretch up with your hands straight above your head. Bend at the hips touch your right fingers to your left toes and twist so your left arms reaches toward the ceiling. Hold then straight up to standing and switch sides.

Wall Sit

Press your back against a wall. Keep back flat against the wall slide down until knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Hold.

Jumping Jacks

Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

Green is the New Black: An Info Guide for Fashionistas

About a week ago I read an article about consumerism. Basically the author was suggesting that in order to be sustainable you should stop purchasing. Anything. My response was that this is an unreasonable request. This may work for some people but it isn’t practical for the majority. Being green should be an attractive lifestyle to all kinds of people. I think the more important lesson for the green fashionista is to be conscience of WHAT your buying and both the quality and quantity of these items.

In Greening Your Home Part 1 (Big Purchases) and Part 2 (Decorating), I talk about learning your personal style for home decor instead of following every current trend. The same applies to your wardrobe and this an info guide for all you fashionistas because green is the new black (I always love in books or movies when a character says the title).

Make the cuts

The first step to a greener wardrobe is to edit it. I don’t mean get rid of everything that isn’t made of sustainable materials and replace these things with pieces that are more environmentally-friendly. That would be the opposite of green. What I mean is find the time to look at every article of clothing that you own. Assign a spot on the floor for YES and a spot for NO.

Look at each item carefully; try them on if you need to. Ask yourself:

• Do I like this item?
• Does it look good on me?
• Do I feel good while wearing this?
• Is it torn or have holes?
• Can I fix it within a week?
• Do I dread seeing someone while wearing this?
• Do I only wear it on laundry day?

If you haven’t worn something for a year, you probably don’t need it anymore. Some things (a wedding or bridesmaids dress, Halloween costumes, etc.) are exceptions. If you can’t think of a good reason to keep something, don’t! Put it in the NO pile and get it out of your life.

I don’t believe in MAYBE piles. I always end up keeping everything and it’s just a waste of time trying to kid yourself. Give yourself clear guidelines about what stays and what goes, and stick to them. Purging your wardrobe is oddly satisfying.

Develop a Shopping Strategy

If you have a game plan before you leave your house about how you plan to shop you will be more likely to keep on the righteous path toward green (I’m officially a green crusader after that statement). Here are a few tips that might help you on your journey.

• Always keep at least one reusable shopping bag by your front door or in your car. There is so much information about the evils of both plastic and paper bags but this post has neither the time nor the space so in the meantime you’ll have to take my word for it. When asked if you want paper or plastic always respond by saying, “Neither, I care about my planet and have brought my own bag.” Or something along those lines.
• Make a list and stick to it. If you make a list you will (hopefully) only include the things you really need, and you will resist the urge to go shopping out of boredom. Think of all the things you can do with your time now. Also, by sticking to the list you won’t be caught off guard by those strategically placed items that stores are so good at setting up in order to encourage you to buy on impulse.
• Opt for organic or sustainable materials. As I mentioned in Greening Your Home Part 2, conventional cotton  farming practices are the most pesticide-intensive in the world. Organic cotton is more expensive but is also more luxurious and used in better quality clothing, which means you won’t have to buy clothes as often. Silk, cashmere, and wool are all sustainable materials, linen and hemp come from plants that even when not grown organically require very little treatment with pesticides.
• Consider vintage, consignment and thrifting. Now I could go on for pages about how much fun I find thrift stores (and I probably will at some point, so look forward to that). But the main thing you should take away from this post today is that clothes that are used require no additional energy to manufacture, the energy is already used and gone. Also you won’t be wearing the same outfit as a hundred other people.

Some e-cards is really helping me tell a story today. They just really understand my life.

• Don’t get suckered by sales. Sales are a clever ploy to get you to buy things you don’t need. There is a sale for every occasion: Father’s Day, Labor Day, After-Christmas, 4th of July. I know when you look at that label for 75% off it can be tempting, but just because you can get a brand-new shower head that also brews coffee for $19.95 doesn’t mean you need it.
• Treat everyone you come across with respect. No matter where you are shopping or what you are buying, everyone deserves  to be treated with dignity, respect and friendliness. If you are unhappy about a policy or product, the people you come in contact with are not to blame.

Where to Buy

Now is the time I give you a list of the places you should be making purchases from. This list comes from A Better World Handbook and is ranked based on five factors: Human Rights, The Environment, Animal Protection, Community Involvement and Social Justice. They also have a Shopping Guide.

• A Companies – are social and environmental leaders
• B Companies – tend to be mainstream companies taking social/environmental responsibility seriously
• C Companies – have either mixed social and environmental records or insufficient data to rank them
• D Companies – engage in practices that have significant negative impact on people and the planet
• F Companies – have the worst social and environmental records

Yak Chili

My parents were vegetarian throughout my childhood and during my teen years they had added white meat (birds) back into their diet. Considering I was dependent on them very much for food my diet mimicked theirs. Therefore, when I started becoming interested in cooking, I watched my mom to learn from her by example. This meant I never really learned how to cook red meat (mammals).

A friend of mine has a yak ranch in Fairplay, CO and I bought a pound of ground meat. I had this meat that I didn’t know how to cook but was interested in trying. I scoured Pinterest for yak meat recipes. I found some ideas but in the end I used the recipes to teach me how to cook the meat properly and added it to a chili. Chili is the best.

To start you need to brown the meat. Yak meat needs to be cooked slowly in order to preserve the flavor. You can also use ground beef or turkey. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the bottom of a large pot. Heat up the oil on medium low and add a pound of meat with one chopped onion.

Cook at a consistent, medium heat until meat is cooked through and onions are translucent.

mmmm steamy!

Drain the liquid from the pan to cut the fat, or leave it in to increase flavor. Add a can of diced tomatoes with liquid.

Drain liquid from three cans of beans. Use some combination of chili beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans etc.

Then add the beans to the pot.

Add a can of tomato sauce, a cup of frozen corn,1 teaspoon paprika, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon oregano, 2 teaspoons garlic powder.

Let the liquid cook out for about 20 minutes. Add salt to taste.

Serve topped with cheese with a side of bread or Fritos.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. of ground meat
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 3 cans of beans (kidney, pinto, black etc.)
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

Directions:

Brown the meat in the bottom of a large pot in a tablespoon of oil with chopped onions on medium heat. Add diced tomatoes with liquid. Drain beans of liquid then add beans to pot. Add the can of tomato sauce, corn and spices. Simmer on low for 20 minutes. Add salt to taste after cooking (salt makes beans tough, add it later to prevent this). Enjoy 🙂

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Sun Salutations

It’s Workout Wednesday and about time for another post about yoga…

All around the world, many cultures have long viewed light as a symbol of consciousness and self-illumination. In The Origins and Historyof Consciousness, Erich Neumann wrote, “The world begins with the coming of light, opposition between light and darkness has informed the spiritual world of all peoples and molded it into shape.”

The only source of light for most of human history was, of course the sun, and today it remains our primary source of light. The Hindus called the sun Surya and they revered it as both the physical and spiritual heart of our world and the creator of life itself. They called the sun the “eye of the world” (loka chakshus), which was regarded as a pathway to the divine.

One important way many Hindus honored the sun was and is through the asana sequence known as Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutations. Namaskais a Sanskrit word, which can be derived from namas, meaning “to bow to” or “to adore.” The placement of joined-hands touching the heart at the beginning and end of each sequence shows that only the heart can know truth.

Ancient Yogis believed that each person replicates the world around, including “rivers, seas, mountains, fields… stars and planets… the sun and moon” (Shiva Samitha, II. 1-3). Therefore the practice of Sun Salutations allows each person to share their inner sun with the sun which shines down upon them.

There are many variations of Sun Salutations but generally it consists of eight basic postures in a similar order as follows, with alternating inhales and exhales as transitions between poses (Photos courtesy of Yoga Journal dot com):

Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Salute)

Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)

Lunge 

Plank Pose

Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward-Facing Dog Pose)

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)

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The Pros and Cons of Wind Power (repost)

I wrote this piece during my internship at the Society for Range Management for the SRM Outreach Blog. It’s about the positive and negative aspects of wind power based on an article I read. I thought it would be appropriate for Monday since I usually write about some environmental topic or other on Mondays… Anyway enjoy! 🙂

CQ Researcher is a periodical that covers some of the most debated social and political topics of today. I recently read a CQ Researcher article titled, “Wind Power: Is Wind Energy Good for the Environment?” written by David Hosansky, which I found to be especially informative.  

Photo by Maggie Haseman,  National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO

In his article Hosansky outlines the history of how humans have harnessed the power of wind. Between 5,500 B.C.E. and 1,400 A.C.E., wind power was first employed in Southeast Asia to sail boats, and in windmills to pump water and grind grain. In the 18th and early 19th century and during the Industrial Revolution, steam began to replace wind, a well established energy source throughout Europe, as a power source. By the late 19th century, however wind reclaimed its early importance when scientists began developing windmills to bring electricity to rural areas, especially in Scotland, the United States, and Denmark. In the 1900s to 1980s most of the U.S. was reliant on nuclear energy and fossil fuels for electricity, farmers however used small windmills for irrigation pump operation. Between 1990 and present day, interest in alternative energy has increased due to rising oil prices, among other factors. Today, Hosansky cites China as the wind power world leader with a wind-energy capacity of 42 gigawatts, followed closely by the U.S. at 40 gigawatts.

A wind turbine works by capturing energy when the wind blows past the blade, there is a “lift” effect causing the blades to turn. As the blades turn, a shaft that is connected to the generator spins, creating electricity.

Wind Turbine Diagram and Parts

Blades: Every turbine usually has either two or three blades. Rotor: The blades and the hub together are called the rotor. Pitch: Blades are turned, or pitched, out of the wind to control the rotor speed. Brake: A disc brake, which can stop the rotor in emergencies. Low-speed shaft: The rotor turns the low-speed shaft at about 30 to 60 rotations per minute. Gear box: Gears connect the low-speed shaft to the high-speed shaft and increase speeds from about 30 to 60 rotations per minute (rpm) to 1,000 to 1,800, rpm, the speed required by most generators to produce electricity. Generator: Produces 60-cycle AC electricity. Controller: The controller starts up the machine at wind speeds of about 8 to 16 miles per hour (mph) and shuts off the machine at about 55 mph. Anemometer: Measures the wind speed and transmits wind speed data to the controller. Wind vane: Measures wind direction and communicates with the yaw drive to orient the turbine properly with respect to the wind. Nacelle: Contains the gear box, low- and high-speed shafts, generator, controller, and brake. High-speed shaft: Drives the generator. Yaw drive: Keeps the rotor on upwind turbines facing into the wind as the wind direction changes. Yaw motor: Powers the yaw drive. Tower: Towers are made from tubular steel, concrete, or steel lattice. Caption Source:  Department of Energy Photo Source: Turbine Zone


Some of the issues I found interesting in Hosansky’s paper include the problem of wind intermittency, the financial constraints involved with wind power, the effect wind energy can have by displacing some emissions and pollutants, concerns about wildlife protection, and the land requirements for a wind farm.

Photo by Charles Haseman, Along I-80 near Des Moines, Iowa

 Living in Colorado, a relatively windy state, I don’t notice a lack of wind but this article reminded me that not every place in the U.S. or the world receives gusts as powerful as those throughout the Great Plains and the west coast. The article discusses that wind power seems to be a perfect fit for the U.S., according to Hosansky, If wind turbines had the ability to operate at 100% of their capacity, wind power has the potential to supply 16 times the electricity needs of the United States; however wind turbines only generate 25-40% of their capacity due to wind intermittency. Another challenge is that the locations with the most persistent wind tend to be in sparsely populated areas away from major population centers and not necessarily when the demand for energy peaks.  As a result, a large network of transmission lines is necessary to deliver the wind energy to the consumers, which could be costly.

I find the financial controversy outlined by Hosansky particularly fascinating. In order to reach the current U.S. goal of generating 20% of energy by wind power, the estimated cost is $200 billion, likely to be burdened onto ratepayers. This money would be used for turbines, improved transmission line capability and other infrastructure. Wind farms can also lower property value by up to 40%. On the other hand, turbines can result in local governments receiving “higher real estate tax revenue” and landowners leasing their land to build towers for $3,000 to $5,000 a year. The renewable energy standard President Obama presented will protect consumers from unstable fuel prices, save money, boost the economy and create green jobs. In addition the price of wind power is less than other renewable-energy sources.

Photo by Charles Haseman, Along I-80 near Des Moines, Iowa

To me, Hosansky’s summary of the effect of carbon dioxide and other pollutants, which are often noted as the culprits for climate change, and the way wind power impacts them is enlightening. “The extraction, transport and combustion of… fossil fuels can affect water and air quality, wildlife habitats and the global climate.” Additionally green energy does not necessarily include all renewable energies; cycling fossil fuel plants up and down in response to the intermittent wind is expensive and “can emit excessive pollution” and reduce the “effectiveness of environmental-control equipment.” In order to reduce emissions it would be more efficient to directly address that problem. Conversely, wind energy is a key energy source to reducing air pollution and carbon dioxide and other emissions from coal and natural gas. Besides hydropower, wind energy generates the most amount of electricity compared to every other renewable energy sources, and it is considered safer than nuclear energy. A combination of diverse mixed fuel sources such as wind, solar and a back-up system of newer and more efficient gas-fired plants that can be quickly ramped up or down can reduce emissions significantly because fossil fuel plants won’t be running as often.

Photo by Charles Haseman, Along I-80 near Des Moines, Iowa

Possibly the most popular argument against wind power that I have heard is about the detrimental effects it can have on wildlife, particularly birds and bats; Hosansky explains this captivating argument. Thousands of birds, including rare raptors such as golden eagles and burrowing owls have been killed by the blades of wind mills, and others have been electrocuted by wind-farm power lines. Additionally, in one year 2,000 bats may have been killed by a single wind farm. However, others suggest that wind farms can be placed far from migratory paths and “major populations of birds and bats” where such effects are less likely. Experts say that many reports of wildlife death were made prior to technological advances; modern wind mills are taller and kill far fewer animals. One report stated that turbines are low on the list of reasons why birds and bats die; pesticides, attacks by domestic and feral cats and collisions with windows kill much greater number of birds.

Photo by Maggie Haseman,  National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO

Another interesting argument discussed by Hosansky concerns land requirements. “Wind farms require far more land… than traditional forms of electricity generation”; estimates say “45 times more than nuclear power and several times more than coal and natural gas plants”. Furthermore, the location of wind farms can damage sensitive ecosystems and destroy beautiful landscapes. Alternatively, ”the turbines take up relatively little space and [the] land around” them can still be utilized for other purposes such as farming, ranching and recreation, thus taking up less space than fossil fuel plants overall. Additionally, improvements in technology continue to allow for larger turbines, meaning fewer are necessary to generate the same amount of electricity. Moreover, between smog and a windmill, one person stated they’d take the windmill.

This article was eye-opening to me and really gave some insight into benefits of and current issues with wind power. I now believe I have formed an educated opinion around wind energy and based on the issues discussed above I personally support wind power. It seems that the issues with it can be solved and, in my opinion, the issues, when they are compared to the benefits, are minor. I enjoyed reading the story-like writing and the political perspective on wind energy. If you would like to read this article too, here is the citation:

Hosansky, D. (2011, April 1). Wind Power: Is wind power good for the environment?. CQ Researcher, 21, 289-312.

How to Make Butter, Buttermilk and Buttermilk Cake

 My mom had some leftover buttermilk from another recipe, which I find is often the case considering it comes from the store in large quantities, so we searched for a way to use it. We hoped that what we found would be a cake, because we love cake.

I found a recipe for a cake, which I altered a little to suit our needs. Mostly this means subbing softened butter for shortening, reducing the sugar content and number of eggs and increasing the buttermilk content. It also means adding dried cherries and miniature chocolate chips because, let’s face it, nothing can taste bad when it has cherries and chocolate in it.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup softened butter
• 3 eggs
• 2 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 3/4 cup buttermilk
• *add-ins to your desired concentration optional*

Directions: 

Beat sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs together with spoon or mixer.  Mix flour, salt and baking soda with a wire whisk in a separate bowl. Add to creamed mixture. Add buttermilk and continue mixing until smooth. Add in cherries, chocolate chips or other mix-ins. Pour into greased, 9×13 cake pan and bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes until centers tests done.  Let cool and serve from pan.

Yum… Buttermilk cake.

Interestingly, I recently learned how to make butter and buttermilk at home. You can learn this (and many other things, like how-to make soap, shingles and cooking in a wood oven) if you come to the free Summer Heritage Event tomorrow evening at 5:30-7pm at Walker Ranch, just west of Boulder. But I’ll enlighten you here in case you can’t attend this event.

It’s so unbelievably easy, and delicious you will be surprised you haven’t been doing it yourself for ages. Take a pint of whipping cream, pour it in a mason jar (you can do it in batches if your jar isn’t large enough). Be sure the lid is on tightly, then shake the jar up and down to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees.

Photo from I’d Eat It

Side note: This is also an excellent arm workout, probably where the shake-a-weight idea came from.

The whipping cream will start getting really thick and you won’t feel it moving around much. If you opened the jar now, you would have whipped cream, but keep shaking with that steady beat. Eventually (between ten and 30 minutes) the side of the jar, which were coated, will become clear. The butter will form a solid mass in the center of the jar and the liquid you see is buttermilk.

Add two ice cube to the jar to solidify the butter and separate the liquid from it. You can then pour off the buttermilk, collect and store it in a airtight container.

You are now a certified 19th century prairie wife (Not meant to be sexist but that’s the way it was in those days).

How do you use up leftover ingredients?

Your Best Butt Forward

Everyone should include a butt exercise in their routine and here’s why: strong glutes can enhance athletic performance, prevent injury, improve posture and result in a nice shape.

All women gain muscle differently, but all women can benefit from strengthening their butt. This is a workout that will help you put your best butt forward. Have a happy Workout Wednesday and as always, drink plenty of water and rest whenever you feel you need to.

You can download the printable pdf of this workout here.

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Below is a description of how to do these workout moves. For a full list you can check out my glossary here. You can also find more printable workouts by clicking here.

Jumping Jacks

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 Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

Lunge

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Take a big step forward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg. 

Squat

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Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, bend your knees slowly until your upper legs are parallel with the floor and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Your chest should be slightly forward and your knees should not extend past your toes. Immediately return to standing with arms by side. 

Plie Squat

With hand on your hips, stand with feet facing toward opposite walls in a wide stance. bend you knees to a 90 degree angle keeping your back straight and your entire body in a single plane. Don’t let your knees extend over your toes; if they do, make your stance wider. Straighten your legs to the starting position and repeat.

Side Lunge

Stand with feet together and hands on hips. Take one large step to the right and keeping the left leg straight bend the right leg, lowering yourself toward the ground. Stand back up and bring your right foot back to touch the left. Then repeat on the left side.

Butt Kickers

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Start in a standing position. Start jogging in place kicking your foot as close to your butt as you can with each step.

Short Bridge

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Lay on your back with arms by your side and feet flat against the floor, hip-width distance apart. Lift your hips from the mat until your body forms a straight line from shoulder to knee.

Side Leg Circles

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Lie down on your side, hip on the floor, and prop yourself up on your forearm. Lift your top leg in a circle toward the front, up, back then down. Do the required number of reps then switch to your other side.

I’m Back! (and hopefully for good this time)

Every website I’ve ever read about blogging says to never tell your readers that you took a break from writing because they either didn’t notice and now realize or they did notice and don’t need you to tell them. But it felt weird for me to return to the blog-osphere without at least addressing the multitude of changes that have occurred in my life. First, I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Rangeland Ecology concentrating on Restoration Ecology in December.

Here’s me standing next to the portrait of the founder of Warner College of Natural Resources

I moved back to my hometown and I got a job as a hostess and expeditor at FATE Brewing Company in January. They opened in February in Boulder, CO and I have loved working here and making new friends.

This photo is from their website

In April, I visited Portland, OR…

…with my mom, Debbie…

This is at a lovely breakfast place called Cheryl’s.

…and my best friend, Alyssa, and her mom, Wendy.

This photo of Alyssa and I is taken outside our hotel, Hotel D’Luxe

We sampled some local cuisine and toured and fell in love with the city.

Voodoo Doughnut

Also in April I started my second job with Boulder County Parks and Open Space. I am working in Education and Outreach, which means I get to go hiking in Boulder County at least twice a week talking to people about nature and the like. And they pay me to do that.

This is me in my uniform.

I also get to eat lunch with adorable critters like this Eastern Fence Lizard…

…enjoy the beautiful wildflowers like this Rocky Mountain Columbine…

…and churn butter, do laundry by hand, play games while dressed up like a 19th century prairie woman (Summer Heritage Event next Saturday 07/20 at 5:30pm at Walker Ranch).

On June 6th, I turned 23 years old, and was lucky enough to celebrate with my family and friends.

In June, I pet sit for the two most entertaining hounds I’ve ever met.

The black on is Stella and Hank is the brown one

 And just last week at the beginning of July I visited my best friend Kristen in L.A., CA (Hermosa Beach)

This is Kristen and I at the only winery we made it to (we meant to go to more but you forget things like that when you share a bottle of wine).

In Venice Beach we tried to match the cover of the Jack’s Mannequin album Everything in Transit

The fish market at Redondo Beach

So far it’s been a fabulous year. Except for the part when I got attacked by a wild turkey. That was one of those times when I wish I were on a reality television show because I bet it would be hilarious to watch now that the trauma has (sort of) worn off.

So I guess that’s the end of this post, you’re all caught up now and you can look forward to a post with a new workout on Workout Wednesday and a post about buttermilk cake on Food Fun Friday.

What’s that you say? You want to hear the story about the turkeys? Well okay if you insist.

It all started back when I was about 5 years old. A goose at the Denver Zoo bit me and ever since I have had an irrational fear of large birds in particular, but birds in general as well. They fly by, near your face and eyeballs, with those sharp beaks and gouging claws. Let’s not forget how closely they are related to dinosaurs like T-Rex. And then I saw that Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds and it was all over.

But recently, due to my job with BCPOS most likely, I have had to make peace with this fear. I have started observing birds in the wild (instead of avoiding eye contact) and found humor in some of their actions. I was even was able to see the cuteness of a goose when I saw these goslings at Walden Ponds, east of Boulder.

One fine day I was patrolling at Heil Valley Ranch, just west of Longmont, CO. I was on the Lichen Loop enjoying the slight breeze and the gentle sunshine. I came across a group of wild turkeys. They were nesting in this area so I’d heard them in the distance on prior trips and had even seen them from a distance but this group was just off the trail.

They are the strangest looking birds, with the wrinkled, sagging skin around their heads and necks and they make sounds that I can only describe as a gurgling metallic bleat (whatever that means). I observed them, and took a few pictures as they walked away from me. Then I set off to continue my hike. The end.

Just kidding…

I was barely past the larger group of turkeys when I saw and heard a patch of western wheatgrass near the trail rustle. It startled me but I figured it must have been the wind. Regardless, I turned to look more closely and saw the feathers of another turkey. She had flattened herself to the ground probably out of fear of the strange creature that had approached her with quick, noisy footsteps. I turned to leave her alone but she decided it was time to protect herself (and her chicks).

In one swift movement she had made herself as large as she could by throwing her wings out and over her back and was merping (another turkey sound) her head off. I yelled in a frightened sort of way, which might not have helped the situation. Then in what I can only assume was an effort to make herself more aerodynamic she put down her wings down close to her body, lowered her head and charged toward me. I circled around a rock because I didn’t know what else to do (probably smart as since I’ve heard that turkeys have been know to puncture car tires so there’s no telling how my bare legs would hold up).

She reversed her charge and came back around the rock from the other side, still in the same head-down, wings-in position. My memory is a little fuzzy but I remember being chased around this rock multiple times before I began my mad sprint down the mountain, (away from the trail in the direction I wanted to go, toward the bit of trail I had come in on) backpack bouncing up and down.

She chased me about 20 yards in a herding matter and all the while I am hollering and yelping. I don’t know if she exactly intended to chase me right toward where her chicks were cheeping around on a bare patch in the grass, but I was forced to leap over them. I counted about three, possible four, adorable balls of fluff and feathers as I careened by/over them. My radio, clipped to my backpack belt, broke and fell, lost in the tall grasses. My ponytail fell out of its fasten as my hat blew off my head. I snatched the hat out of the air before it was carried away on the wind.

She stopped on a boulder, like a sentinel, ensuring I was gone for good. Then in a panicky way she scurried around collecting the oblivious chicks. I made it back to the trail with adrenaline, fear and sadness pulsing through my veins, tears splashing down my cheeks. I knew it was no good to go forward so I turned around and went back, defeated by a turkey.

And that is the end. Except I did end up finding the radio. I know that was concerning all of you very much; a poor radio left out in the rain with mad, wild turkeys on the loose.

Tell me about your experience with wildlife, domestic animals, children in the comments below.

Easy As 3.14

Today is the fourteenth of March, or in number 3-14. Some of you might see today as just another day, but every year I look forward to today as eagerly as a child dreams about Christmas morning. Do you know why? Because, today I get to eat pie in excessive amount and pretend it’s because I love math (but really it’s because I love pie).

Caught on yet? I’ll spell it out for you. The Greek letter pi is the symbol for the number 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820…., which is a very important number in math especially when it comes to circles. It’s an irrational number, which basically means it never ends (just like my love for pie). Don’t believe me? This website gives 1,000,000 decimal points, and that’s not even the end of it. Also here’s a really cool video of a guy who put the number pi to music:

But I’m not here to teach you about math or music, I’m here to give you a workout sequence based on math. YAY!

There are two sets of “pi” complete with three minutes of cardio, one minute rest and four minutes of strength. Go through both sets once for beginners, twice for intermediate and three times for advanced. Do an extra time through if you plan to eat pie after 😉

Download the printable version here.

Check out my full glossary of workout terms. Below is a list of terms used in this workout.

Burpees 
Begin in a standing position. Drop into a squat position with your hand on the ground. Extend your feet back in one quick motion to assume the plank position. Return to the squat position in one quick motion. Jump straight into the air as high as possible. That’s one rep.

Bridge Lift
Lay on your back with arms by your side and feet flat against the floor, hip-width distance apart. Lift your hips from the mat until your body forms a straight line from shoulder to knee.

Front Kicks 
Start in a standing position. Lift your right leg straight out in front of your body until it is as close to parallel with the ground as you can lift it. Alternate legs.

High Knees 
Start standing and begin jogging in place lifting your knees as high as possible.

Jumping Jacks 
Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

PlankSet-up the top of a push-up position with your hands directly below your shoulder. A variation of this is to rest on your forearms with elbows directly beneath shoulders. Hold your body completely straight by engaging your abs. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: don’t drop your hips or raise your butt.

PushupLay on your belly with hand flat on the floor on either side, forearms perpendicular to the floor. Stiffen body and literally push yourself away from the ground, hinging at the toes. When arms are straight hold and with control release your body, hover above the ground and repeat.

Ski JumpsStarting in a standing position with knees slightly bent and chest forward, quickly jump from side to side over an imaginary line. Land each time with feet hip-width distance apart. When you land where you began (2 jumps) that’s one rep.

Squat
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Immediately rise out of squat, returning to standing with arms by side.

Shoulder Press 
Hold a weight in each hand above your shoulders, next to your ears. With palms facing in life the weights straight up until your arms are straight directly over your shoulders. release to starting position.

Star Jumps 
Stand with feet hip-width apart. Squat down and jump up as high as you can. In midair spread your arms and legs wide. As you land in the starting position bend your knees.

Tricep Dip 
Find an elevated surface such as a step, a coffee table over a chair. Place your palms on the surface directly behind your body. Hold yourself up and gently lower yourself down using your arms. When your arms make a 90-degree angle behind you lift yourself back up to the starting position.

V-Raise 
Hold a weight in each hand, arms at your side with palms facing in. Lift with straight arms and open them into a v-shape until arms are parallel with the floor. Hold then carefully release to starting position.

Wall Sit 
Press your back against a wall. Keep back flat against the wall slide down until knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Hold.

This is One Hundred Workout

It’s Workout Wednesday, and while we all (hopefully) can count to one hundred, and we all know what it looks like (“one hundred” or “100”) especially if you’ve played with coins at all. Now you can know what it FEELS like too, because this workout is a breakdown of five awesome moves to do for a total body workout. You can even know what two hundred and three hundred feel like it, if your up for it.

Start by warming up with some stretches of the shoulders, legs and side body for at least five minutes. Stretching feels awesome so longer is definitely not frowned upon here. Then when you’re ready turn on some tunes and go for it!

Try to go all the way through without taking breaks (obviously stop if you can’t go on). If you’re a beginner stop at just one time through, you can always work up to more. Intermediate, take a 1-2 minute break then try going through the workout a second time and advanced should shoot for three times through. As always, drink lots of water and have fun!

If you would like to print out this workout you can download it from my Google Docs by clicking here.

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Below is a description of how to do these workout moves. For a full list you can check out my glossary here. You can also find more printable workouts by clicking here.

Pushup
Lay on your belly with hand flat on the floor on either side, forearms perpendicular to the floor. Stiffen body and literally push yourself away from the ground, hinging at the toes. When arms are straight hold and with control release your body, hover above the ground and repeat.

Lunge
Take a big step forward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Tricep Dip
Find an elevated surface such as a step, a coffee table over a chair. Place your palms on the surface directly behind your body. Hold yourself up and gently lower yourself down using your arms. When your arms make a 90-degree angle behind you lift yourself back up to the starting position.

Squat 
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Immediately rise out of squat, returning to standing with arms by side. 

V-Ups 
Hold a weight in each hand, arms at your side with palms facing in. Lift with straight arms and open them into a v-shape until arms are parallel with the floor. Hold then carefully release to starting position.

Homemade Any-Nut Butter

 
Nut butters are quick and easy way to make a meal, but unfortunately the cheaper one are packed with sugars that gives you an sugar spike in energy and then a super crash shortly after. The ones with less sugar are more expensive and sometimes it is hard to justify that cost. Lucky for you, now I’m going to let you in on a secret: nut butters are the easiest most mindless thing you can make in your kitchen as long as you have a food processor or blender. Making nut butter at home is so simple and cheap, you seriously won’t believe it’s this easy.

You can use this recipe for walnut, hazelnut, almond, peanut, cashew, pecan, etc. butter. Now my plant nerd is going to come out real quick so bear with me: not all of these are actually “nuts,” for example a peanut is actually a legume and an almond is a seed inside what is called a drupe. But in the world eating, we don’t specify such things and refer to them in an umbrella category of nuts… and I’m NUTS about each and every one… groan I let out my bad joke side too, sorry.

Ingredients:

2 cups of your favorite nut
Mix-ins such as salt, honey, cocoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place nuts in one layer on baking sheet and roast for about 12 minutes. This time may vary depending on oven, so keep an eye on it between 8-15 minutes. For raw nut butters: skip the roasting. Add nuts to a food processor and pulse. You will have to scrape down the sides about every two minutes or so. It starts out making a meal, but will eventually turn into a paste. Just continue to process and scrape down the sides. Add any mix-in you like and enjoy!

Peanut Butter

 no extra ingredients, just peanuts…

 A few pulses later,

and a few more,

starting to look like peanut butter,

Perfect! Took about 10 minutes. I keep old containers and rinse them out so I always have a few peanut butter jars around but any airtight container in the fridge is fine. Estimated cost: $2.00/12 oz (Average jar holds about 16 oz and cost around $5.00)

Almond Joy Butter

 Almonds… mmmm…

Add some cocoa powder and coconut flakes to taste

 Pulse…

 If it’s dry or chalky add some almond milk (about a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency)

 Looking good keep pulsing.

Done! This one took about 20 minutes of pulsing and it smells heavenly without any added sugar. Yay! Estimated cost: $7.00/24 oz (Average jar is about 16 oz and cost about $9.00)

Save money: check
Improve health: check
Winning

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Tell me about nut butters you’ve made in the comments 🙂
 

Runner’s Stretches

I’ve been learning so much in my running journey over the last three-months. Did you know that if you stretch your range of motion in your hip joint you can actually become a better runner? If your hips are too tight your leg won’t extend behind your body very far before swinging forward, which reduces the propulsion your body has the potential to exhibit. These stretches are meant to open your hip joint in order to improve your running.

The Happy Runner [dot] blogspot [dot] com

Kneeling Hip-Flexor Stretch

Step into a lunge position, and lower you back knee to the ground. Keep your upper body straight while you tilt your pelvis forward. Hold for one minute, release, and repeat twice more. Then switch to the other leg.

Knee-to-Chest Bridge

Pull in your right knee, holding it against your chest. Keeping your head and shoulder blades on the floor, push up with your left leg into a bridge position while keeping your right leg against you. Push up, keeping the pelvis level, then lower yourself down. Do 12 to 15, then switch legs. Do three sets on each side.

I Heart Inspiration [dot] com

Marching Bridge

With your head, shoulders, and both feet on the floor, push up into a bridge position. While up, begin “marching”—alternate lifting each foot about an inch off the ground, while keeping your pelvis steady and facing straight up. Do three sets of 20 marches (10 on each leg), with a short break between each set.

Swing Drill

Bend and lift your left leg in front of you, then swing it back behind you as far as it will reach without moving your pelvis or lower back. This is the running motion you want to have—hip extending back, pelvis and lower back neutral (not arched). Do two sets of 20 swings with each leg, alternating legs with each set.

Community [dot] Saucony [dot] com

Half-pidgeon

Starting in a v-shape position with hands and feet flat against the floor, pull your right leg through, placing your right foot next to your left hand and your right knee next to your right hand. Bring your butt as close to the floor as you can as you place the top of your left foot on the ground with your leg stretching behind you. Sit up tall and then bending forward at the waist, touch your forehead to the floor. Hold, release and repeat on the left side.

Runner’s Lunge

Get into a lunge position with the right knee at a 90-degree angle, knee not passing the toes, and the left leg straight.  Put your hands flat to the floor on either side of your right foot. Then move your right foot to the outside of your right hand, toes at a 45 degree angle. Move around in this stretch, roll to the outside edge of your right foot opening your right knee to the floor, or lower your left knee to the floor. When you feel adequately stretched, switch legs.

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15 Minute Fat Burning Circuit

Does everybody know what time is it (and it’s not Tool Time)? That’s right it’s time for another free printable workout on Workout Wednesday. Are you ready feel the burn?

This workout can be done everyday if you dare to try. Do each move for the duration of a minute. Do them quickly, maximizing the number of actions you can fit in each minute. Try to minimize the number of breaks you take between moves but be sure to take them when you need them. And as always drink water!

Download this free printable workout.

Check out my glossary of these workout terms and many more. The following list is those found just in this workout:

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Burpees

Begin in a standing position. Drop into a squat position with your hand on the ground. Extend your feet back in one quick motion to assume the plank position. Return to the squat position in one quick motion. Jump straight into the air as high as possible. That’s one rep.

Butt Kickers

Start in a standing position. Start jogging in place kicking your foot as close to your butt as you can with each step.

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Front Kicks

Start in a standing position. Lift your right leg straight out in front of your body until it is as close to parallel with the ground as you can lift it. Alternate legs.

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High Knees

Start standing and begin jogging in place lifting your knees as high as possible.

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Jog-in-place

Pretty self explanatory, jog… but do it in place.

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Jumping Jacks

Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

Mountain Climbers

Begin in a pushup position on the hands and toes. Bring the right knee in towards the chest, resting the foot on the floor. Jump up and switch feet in the air, bringing the left foot in and the right foot back. Switch back, that’s one rep.

Plank

Set-up the top of a push-up position with your hands directly below your shoulder. A variation of this is to rest on your forearms with elbows directly beneath shoulders. Hold your body completely straight by engaging your abs. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: don’t drop your hips or raise your butt.

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Plie Jump

Starting from a wide stance turn your toes to face out. Bend your knees then pressing up from your toes jump straight up. As you land bend your knees again.

Pushup

Lay on your belly with hand flat on the floor on either side, forearms perpendicular to the floor. Stiffen body and literally push yourself away from the ground, hinging at the toes. When arms are straight hold and with control release your body, hover above the ground and repeat.

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Ski Jumps

Starting in a standing position with knees slightly bent and chest forward, quickly jump from side to side over an imaginary line. Land each time with feet hip-width distance apart. When you land where you began (2 jumps) that’s one rep.

Squat Jumps

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Jump straight up as high as you can landing back in a squat.

Star Jumps

Stand with feet hip-width apart. Squat down and jump up as high as you can. In midair spread your arms and legs wide. As you land in the starting position bend your knees.

Static Lunge

Begin with right leg one large step in front of the left leg. Lower your body until both knees from a 90-degree angle. Don’t touch your back knee to the ground. Lift yourself out of the lunge. Do reps then switch to left leg.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I decided to read this book for a few reasons:

1. Many people recommended it to me,
2. I think the title is intriguing, and
3. I have a rule about not seeing movies before reading the book, but I wanted to see the movie since Emma Watson is in it. 🙂

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a marvelous coming of age story. The main character, Charlie, writes letters to an anonymous stranger throughout his first year of high school. He is generally misunderstood, his peers regard him as a freak, and his only friend dies before the school year starts through an act of suicide. When two half-sibling seniors, Sam and Patrick, take him under their wing his world begins to change.

The book is a quick and easy read but don’t let the simplicity fool you. The story has a depth. The reader learns that Charlie was molested by a family member, causing him to become a passive person, who allows others to do what they want with him. He witnesses a rape, he accepts drugs and alcohol, he has a girlfriend he doesn’t really like and he even allows his gay friend Patrick to kiss him during his post-breakup grieving period. Charlie doesn’t recognize that these things upset him because he sees they help others and he internalizes his own thoughts and feelings. Sam, encourages Charlie to express himself and show passion for his own desires.

Charlie learns about being a friend, sex and intimacy (though he himself does not have sex), drugs such as LSD, marijuana, and alcohol, homosexuality, homophobia (a scene where a father beats his gay son), Rocky Horror Picture Show, abortion (his sister), suicide, rape and molestation. He earns straight A’s in school and displays heartwarming relationships with his family (mom, dad, older sister, and older brother). Charlie also has a tender relationship with his English teacher who assigns him extra reading and work because he recognizes how special and intelligent Charlie is.

It’s hard to determine the way this book made me feel. I believe the writing was excellent and here’s why. I felt uncomfortable reading something so private (from a fictional character, yes! How can this be done?) Needless to say, it’s not a feel-good story but rather a question-humanity-and-your-very-existence kind of book.

My Favorite Quotes:

• “We are infinite”
• “We accept the love we think we deserve.”
• “Zen is a day like this when you are part of the air and remember things.”
• “I really think that everyone should have watercolors, magnetic poetry and a harmonica.”
• “I don’t think we should base so much on weight, muscles, and a good hair day, but when it happens, it’s nice. It really is.”
• “So this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.” 

What did you think?

Living Room Tabata Workout

Guess what… it’s Workout Wednesday again and with it comes a printable Tabata workout that you can do in the comfort of your own living room. A little background in Tabata training: Tabata was founded in Japan by Izumi Tabata. In two groups of athletes, he compared moderate intensity training with high intensity interval training. 

He found that the athletes training in high intensity interval training improved their aerobic systems as well as their anaerobic system. The athletes who did the moderate intensity training only improved their aerobic system, with little or no change to their anaerobic system.

With this in mind, this workout is meant to push you. You should try to keep your heart rate up for each set and for the strength bursts you should give it your all (especially with the gorging holiday tomorrow). Good luck!

Download this free printable workout.

The following are terms used for this workout. For a full list check out my workout terms glossary. 

Burpees

Begin in a standing position. Drop into a squat position with your hand on the ground. Extend your feet back in one quick motion to assume the plank position. Return to the squat position in one quick motion. Jump straight into the air as high as possible. That’s one rep.

Dead Lift Toe Touches

Stand with feet a bit closer together than shoulder-width. Bend forward at the waist with a straight back, arms hanging straight down from the shoulder. Bend through your knees, then lift your chest by pulling your shoulders back and down, head in line with the rest of your body. Then straighten your legs and lift up on your tippy-toes.

Mountain Climbers

Begin in a pushup position on the hands and toes. Bring the right knee in towards the chest, resting the foot on the floor. Jump up and switch feet in the air, bringing the left foot in and the right foot back. Switch back, that’s one rep.

Pushup

Lay on your belly with hand flat on the floor on either side, forearms perpendicular to the floor. Stiffen body and literally push yourself away from the ground, hinging at the toes. When arms are straight hold and with control release your body, hover above the ground and repeat.

Rear Lunge

Take a big step backward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Sit-ups

Start by lying on your back on the floor, cross your arms over your chest or place hands behind head or neck. With feet flat against the floor and knees bent, lift upper and lower vertebrae from the floor. Lower back to the floor with control. That’s one rep.

Ski Moguls

Starting in a standing position with knees slightly bent and chest forward, quickly jump from side to side over an imaginary line. Land each time with feet hip-width distance apart. When you land where you began (2 jumps) that’s one rep.

Squat Jumps

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Jump straight up as high as you can landing back in a squat.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

The Green Belt [dot] blogspot [dot] com

 What are you thankful for this year?

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Greening Your Home Part 2: Decorating

Part two in a series about how to green your home (part one can be viewed here) is all about decorating and the little details. Home should be three things: an oasis, which makes you feel safe and healthy, a reflection of your personal style and it should smell wonderful.

The most important thing to remember when redecorating (or decorating for the first time) is that your style is more sustainable than whatever the current trend is. Focus on what you like and dislike and find furniture (see part one), textiles and decorative objects to fit your niche. Think about your style, do you prefer mid-century modern, girly antique, breezy beach cottage, or something else?

De-clutter Your Life

Alright, in my experience the best decorating strategy is to start by cutting out all the clutter in your life. This extremely freeing (when I get on a roll sorting into the trash, recyclable, give-away and sell piles I just feel like the queen of the world), but what’s more is accumulating a bunch of junk you don’t need is an unsustainable habit.

I know it’s time to clean out when magazines are piling up on the floor, mail on the table, laundry goes undone, clean clothes remain on the floor… I think I’ll stop listing things now since I am beginning to sound like a major slob.

MAGAZINES
Only keep subscriptions to those publications, which you read regularly and would miss if they did not arrive each month. Not only do they take up space but if you aren’t reading the magazine it’s a waste of paper. 

BILLS
Opt for e-bills to pay online. Saves paper and cuts the clutter.

JUNK MAIL
A year’s worth of junk mail slays over one million trees, wastes 28 billion gallons of water and uses as much CO2 as 2.8 million cars. 41 Pounds is a service, which removes you from junk mailing lists for five years.

Things to keep around

STORAGE

Now that you’ve removed the clutter you need a place to store the stuff you DO want to keep. I made a couple of storage containers out of old shoe boxes. I don’t know why but I can’t stand to get rid of shoe boxes, they are so sturdy it just seems a waste. I was using them to store things hidden in my closet (because they aren’t very attractive) but I found a pin on pinterest, which showed me the light. Here are my results:

I can post a tutorial on how to make these boxes (no sewing). Check out my poor sickly plant: that was a just because gift from boyfriend (aww). I just replanted it from the plastic container it came in into a big boy pot. It’s not adjusting well.

Toss the things you don’t need, hide the things you don’t want to see, and as for the rest? Continue reading; there’s no need to keep every surface in your home totally barren.

PLANTS
Plants are my favorite things in the world; I prefer to live in a jungle home with every surface (including the floor) supporting a pot with a plant of some kind. I think they are so pretty AND they can eliminate toxins from the air. Here is a list of beautiful plants and the toxins which they remove.

http://www.houseofplants.co.uk/Collections_freshair.htm

• Gerbera daisies (reduce formaldehyde levels)
• Chrysanthemums (reduce benzene and trichloroethylene levels)
• Orchids (reduce xylene and toluene levels)
• English ivy (reduces benzene levels)
• Bamboo (reduces formaldehyde levels)
• Butterfly palm (replaces your humidifier)
• Rubber plant (reduces formaldehyde levels, can be toxic to pets)
• Peace lily
• Heartleaf or elephant ear philodendron

Just a little plant pun for you: I would have given you flowers, but I never botany. *groan*

CANDLES
I love candles. They smell lovely and create ambient light. As long as you use candles made from soy or beeswax they are also eco-friendly.  Make sure to keep these around.

http://www.organic-fair-trade.com/Beehive-Glass-Beeswax-Candle.html

Soy wax burns cleaner, lasts longer, holds more fragrance, contain no toxic chemicals or carcinogens, and are all-natural (when no non-natural fragrance or color is added). Beeswax candles are naturally scented with honey and smell sensational. Look for sustainable brands because the bees need the wax to lay eggs in and store honey so we don’t want to exploit their homes.

REFURBISH
Look at objects in a different light. For example, while shopping at ReSource Yard, a building materials re-purposing company here in Fort Collins, I found an old brick in a pile of other old bricks. Because this particular brick was the only one like it, it was practically useless on its own but check out how I decided to use it.

My wine selection is lacking, but before I had a place to store wine I couldn’t buy as much. I’ve been looking for a unique wine storage unit for a while now. You never know what you’ll find, if you look with a creative mind. (Haha rhyming, I give you permission to use that as your personal motto).

WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Say you have a collection of pig figurines. Find a way to display your collection where it’s viewable, not in the corner gathering dust. Pig figurines may not be trending in the interior design world but if it’s important to you it will make you feel that much more comfortable in your home. Your home should reflect your personal style.

 

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/vintage-pig-figurines-huge-lot-of-collectible-pig-figures

PICTURES and PAINTINGS

I love having pictures of my family and friends all over the house. I also have framed artwork from poster stores, Dustin Hawks (my brother-in-law), magazines (Yoga journal always includes a full page image of some scene in nature. I change these out every month), and even a few flea market purchases.

• Support a local artist to find new art and help your community.
• Look for art at flea markets, garage sales, antique stores and thrift stores.
• Recycle pages from books, magazines, newspapers and turn them into art.
• Frame photographs and hang them artistically, below is a beautifully designed gallery wall:

http://www.homelife.com.au/homes/galleries/decorating+with+craft+,17075?pos=4

FABRICS and TEXTILES
Unless they’re organic, the cotton sheets on your bed were probably sprayed with 1.25 pounds of pesticides. Conventionally grown cotton uses 25% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of all pesticides. These carcinogens seep into groundwater and contaminate the habitat for fish and other wildlife. Regular cotton sheets are also treated with formaldehyde and some of the colored dyes may contain heavy metals. Now you know why your mom told you to wash your sheets before sleeping in them.

As for cotton-polyester blend sheets, they don’t tend to last as long (meaning you have to buy more often… so not green) and are derived from petroleum. So when you’re looking for a new set of sheets, be sure to look for the following:

• Organic cotton (or linen, or pesticide-free bamboo)
• Free of harsh chemical dyes
• Not chlorine bleached

A few brands to check out:

• Anna Sova ($130 for a complete set)
• Coyuchi ($50 – flat and fitted sheets sold separately)
• Loop ($200 for a complete set)

and for those not rolling in dough, Target has a line of organic cotton sheets starting at $25 for a set.

http://www.target.com/p/target-home-325-thread-count-organic-cotton-collection/-/A-12173470

All the statistics above apply to curtains, towels and blankets. Look for organic cotton or wool blankets to snuggle up with this winter so you don’t have to turn up the heat (double green win!)

Did I miss something? Leave your sustainable decorating tips below in the comments, and come back soon to learn about Earth-friendly cleaning in Part 3 of Greening Your Home.

Spiced Couscous and Turkey

It’s Foodie Friday Maggie’s Mind Mumblesians, and I have a recipe that would be a great to use for leftover turkey after Thanksgiving. If you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving you can go the deli at your local grocery store and ask for one slice of turkey cut 1/2 inch thick (chicken works well too). For me it cost about $7.00.

Start by breaking up the turkey with a knife into bite-sized pieces, and collecting the other ingredients…

Slice the 4 medium carrots and 4 spring onions. chop up 1/2 cup cilantro. Boil 2 1/4 cups of water, add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon  salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the carrots and cook about 3-4 minutes until tender but still crisp. Drain the carrots reserving the liquid (scroll down for a hot and steamy picture).

Measure 1 cup couscous into a heat-proof bowl, then add the turkey to the bowl and pour in 1 cup of the cook liquid. Stir until mixed and cover tightly. Let sit for 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.

Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup sliced almonds and 1/4 cup golden raisins, the spring onions and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook, stirring constantly about 2-3 minutes until nuts are toasted. Stir in the cilantro. You can practically smell this picture!

Divide the couscous and turkey among bowls (serves 4), top with carrot and some of the cooking liquid. Sprinkle with almond mixture and more cilantro (we all know how much I love cilantro). Top with plain Greek yogurt and/or harissa or other hot sauce.

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Challenging Yoga Pose Helper

Yoga is full of challenges and difficulties to overcome, which is why I consider it a journey. Through gradual changes I have seen my body evolve from being tense and tight to being capable of awesome poses. The best thing is that these changes are noticeable: every practice I experience a deeper stretch and can push myself just a little bit further. This post includes some challenging poses and methods to achieve them from Women’s Health Magazine.

The Pose: King Dancer (Natarajasana) 

At any stage of practicing this move you feel a stretch in your shoulders, quads, and hip flexors and you will see improvement in balance. To stay steady, focus on a spot on the ground in front of you (Drishti).

The Buildup

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/the-pose-king-dancer-natarajasana?workout=27589

Stage 1
Loop a strap around the top of your left foot and holding the strap in left hand, lift left elbow toward the ceiling. Hold, then release and switch legs.

Stage 2
Start in stage 1, then grab the strap with your right hand as well. Push your left foot into the strap, without leaning forward too much. Hold, then release and switch legs.

Stage 3
From phase 2, move your hands down the strap closer to your foot. Elevate the thigh by pressing into your shin. Keep your chest lifted. Hold, then release and repeat with the other leg.

The Finale

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/the-pose-king-dancer-natarajasana?workout=27589 

From phase 3, move your hands down the strap and grab your foot with both hands. Draw your knee toward the center of your body so it’s in line with your butt. Press your foot into your hand until your thigh is parallel to the floor. Keep your chest up, hips square, and upper arms close to your ears. Hold, then release and switch sides.

The Pose: Handstand (Adho-Mukha Vrksasana)

This pose strengthens your shoulders, arms, core, and legs. As you work toward it, keep four things in mind: Move slowly and carefully, rotate your triceps toward your body, keep your neck relaxed, and gaze just slightly past your fingertips.

The Buildup

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/the-pose-handstand-adho-mukha-vrksasana?workout=27589

Stage 1
Start in downward-facing dog (an inverted V) with your heels against a wall. Place your right foot flat on the wall, then place your left foot next to your right. You should be in an upside-down L shape with your wrist directly below your shoulder, your back straight and perpendicular to the floor, and you legs straight and parallel to the floor. Hold, then bend your knees and lower one foot to the floor at a time.

Stage 2
Start in Stage 1, then lift your right leg off the wall, straight up toward the ceiling. Your left leg is still parallel to the floor, with your foot flat on the wall. Hold, keeping your core tight, arms straight, and neck relaxed, then bring your right foot back to the wall and switch legs. To release, bring both feet back to the wall, bend your knees, and lower one foot at a time.

Stage 3
Face the wall and place your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor about 10 inches away from it. Get into downward-facing dog, then walk your feet in a few inches, stacking your shoulders over your wrists. Brace your core and slowly raise your left heel toward the ceiling, leg straight. Keep your hips square, arms straight, and neck relaxed. Hold, gazing toward your fingertips, then lower your leg and switch sides.

The Finale

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/the-pose-handstand-adho-mukha-vrksasana?workout=27589

Start in downward-facing dog with your hands shoulder-width apart and legs straight. Walk your feet forward, shifting your weight onto your hands and stacking your shoulders over your wrists. With your arms straight and core tight, lift your right leg toward the ceiling, keeping your hips square. Bend your left knee and gently raise your left leg toward the ceiling, bringing your hips over your shoulders. Hold, then slowly come down one leg at a time.

To view Crow (Bakasana) and Side Plank B (Vashistasana B), and a more detailed description of King Dancer (Natarajasana) and Handstand (Adho Mukha Vrksasana), please visit the Women’s Health Website. If you would like a printable pose guide, click here.

Sustainable Holidays

There’s just one week until my Thanksgiving week long break and I can’t tell you how relieved I am to realize it’s just around the corner. In some ways this break is bittersweet because it is the last Thanksgiving I will see in my Undergraduate as this is my final semester at university (for now). On top of that Christmas and other winter holidays are waiting to burst forth with sparkling twinkle lights, soft frosted sugar cookies, striped peppermint canes, peace, love and good will toward man.

Wintertime brings forth thoughts of joy within my spirit, but with these holiday parties, gifts and excessive food we also see a lot of waste, which is not very Earth-friendly. I would never suggest that anyone should cut out the important traditions, or stop giving gifts or never throw a party. What is life, let alone Christmas without these things? However, winter sends our consumerism into overdrive and I am here to give some tips on how to reduce (not remove) some of these excessive purchases.

Invitations and Cards

Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When we read we begin with ABC when we throw a party we begin with invitations. On this topic, I’m torn. It’s always quite lovely to receive a beautiful invitation to a wedding, holiday party, or shower. On the other hand, the paper industry is the third largest producer of greenhouse gases in the U.S.

 http://sfgirlbybay.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html

• Evites (like those from Punchbowl.com) are virtual invitations, which may provide the answer. 
• Another idea is to use partly or 100% postconsumer recycled paper.
• Non-wood pulp paper:
• Cotton paper from Crane’s, which uses leftover waste from the textile industry.
• Botanical Paperworks is a company which uses biodegradable materials to make cards with seeds in them. You plant the card and can enjoy a garden of beautiful wildflowers next spring.
• Kenaf and hemp papers are a good choice, because kenaf and hemp are sustainable and easy to grow without pesticides.
• Resource for recycled tree-free paper: Vickerey.
• Avoid cards which are embedded with metallic sparklies or are coated in plastic. They are tough, if not impossible to recycle.

Gift Wrap

Gift wrap is often not recyclable due to the large amount of ink used in printing, nor is gift wrap generally made from recycled materials. So considering the gift wrap is rarely appreciated before it is torn off the gift and wadded into a ball to be used later in gift wrap basketball (is that just my family?) it’s a bad idea to use conventional wrapping paper. But good news everyone, there are alternatives:

• You can find gift wrap and bags made from recycled paper and tree-free materials on Lucky Vitamin.
• Wrap gifts unconventionally: Gifting your foodie friend kitchen utensils and a gift card to their favorite restaurant? wrap it in a pretty kitchen dish cloth. Wrap a gift inside a usable tote or purse; two gifts in one!
• Make a cute origami gift box (see my tutorial here) or gift bag (see tutorial on How About Orange) from magazines or newspaper. Recycling is the best! Plus, magazines have beautiful glossy pages.
• Save still pretty bows and ribbons from year to year (key words, still pretty; don’t be saving ratty old bits of useless material.)

Origami gift box from magazine pages.

Gifts

When it comes to gifts, people generally default to things. Change your mindset. Unless you know exactly what someone wants or needs, a thing might not be the answer to your gift giving questions. What to give instead? Gift certificates are a great place to start, not generic, impersonal ones but ones that really show you know who they are and what they like. Have a friend who loves yoga? Get them a a punch pass to a local yoga studio. Remember that foodie friend I mentioned earlier? Restaurant gift card! More ideas:

• A donation to a charity in their name.
• Tickets to their favorite concert, sports team, the ballet, the opera, the movies… etc.
• Gift card to a salon or spa.
• Mom and dad would love a framed picture of you and your siblings.
• For your gal pals, a night out and an overnight stay in a luxury hotel.
• For a sporty friend, sessions with a personal trainer.
• For that recently married couple, a bottle of the wine served at their wedding or honeymoon.

See it’s not so hard. Homemade gifts are also very appreciated. They show you put time and energy into their gift. Here are a few links to homemade gifts (pinterest is the best pinterest)

• 186 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas on It’s Written on the Wall
• 25 Handmade Gifts Under $25 on 36th Avenue 
• 101 Handmade Gifts for Men on Everything Etsy

That should keep you busy for a while.

http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/gifts/wrapping/creative-gift-wrapping-ideas-00000000014208/page11.html

Refreshments

No one can deny that food and booze can make or break a party. Food and booze also tend to be served in excess at parties, with good reason. No host or hostess wants to be caught without food to serve the seven who RSVPed “no” but decided to come anyway or the plus one your nephew forgot to mention he was bringing (*hint hint* this is also a commentary on party etiquette).

Thanksgiving: the holiday we give thanks for what we have (to waste)  

http://people.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/823264/

More than 25 percent of food produced for humans is thrown out (that comes out to about 50 million tons of food every year). This food ends up in landfills, which are major sources of human-produced methane, a greenhouse gas that is twenty-three times more prolific than CO2. The moral of the story is to:

• only serve the amount of food you’ll need,
• store the leftovers for a meal tomorrow,
• use local and organic ingredients,
• recycle and compost waste, and
• use cloth napkins and reusable dishes and utensils.

As for alcohol serve organic alcohol as often as possible. Why does it matter? Alcohol come from plants and it takes a lot of plants to make that much alcohol. This means a heck of a lot of pesticides; not good for you, or the planet. Organic alcohols:

• Square One Vodka
• Juniper Green Organic London Dry Gin served with Q Tonic
• Tarnantas Organic Cava Brut
• Bison Brewing Organic India Pale Ale

Decorations

In my family decorating the house for Christmas is a Christmas tradition I love (in fact one year a cried… I don’t actually remember why but it had something to do with Christmas decorating and not doing it as a family… or something). I love changing the decor in my apartment (especially the door wreath) seasonally, but Christmas is when I really go all out with the decorations (this is probably true for most people).

Unfortunately some of the decorations on the market are not very Earth-friendly, namely twinkle lights. A string of 300 hundred of these lights can use 30 kilowatt-hours of energy (emitting 45 pounds of CO2) over the holiday season. And with those big fat lights, your looking at 450 kilowatt-hours (700 pounds of CO2). The solution? LED lights! Not only do they only use 3 kilowatt-hours during the holiday season, they don’t get hot so your fire risk goes WAY down.

Old town Fort Collins in winter. I wonder if they use LED lights…

http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv8550.php

Use decorations you can reuse from year to year (i.e. a paper garland is a no-no, also not chic. That goes for confetti too, which is ridiculously hard if not impossible to clean up). Look for decorations at antique stores, thrift shops and garage sales instead of buying them new.

Other than that, the only thing I can suggest is forgetting the Christmas tree all together. But I would never suggest that because I LOVE Christmas trees. Seriously.

This room is unquestionably gorgeous!

http://freshome.com/2009/12/13/10-beautiful-christmas-tree-decorating-ideas/

However, consider an artificial Christmas tree. No luxurious spruce smell, but also no messy needles. Or if you could never go without a real Christmas tree, buy one with roots attached that you can replant when Christmas is over.

Clean-Up

Don’t give up on being green just because you are over-whelmed with a mess after a party. Hopefully you’ve already reduced a lot (a major point of this post in case you missed that) and you are left with a relatively easy cleanup. Use green products like Seventh Generation and Simple Green (more on green cleaning products later). Replace your plastic trash bags with recycled trash bags or use biodegradable bags, such as BioBag. Avoid disposable dishes and utensils! Here’s a few tips if you need more dishes to cover your guests:

• Check out vintage shops for unique (and cheap) dishes that send you good vibes, man.
• If you buy new, get organic or renewable fabrics, recycled glass, sustainable woods, and ceramics colored with nontoxic dyes.

The end… Good luck to you with your holiday season. Leave a comment to tell me how you plan to utilize these tips or share your own.

ACDC – Apple Cake Disastrous Conundrum

 
My grandmother’s birthday was on October 17th. Before her birthday we were discussing what kind of cake she would like and I brought up the pumpkin shaped cake, which uses to bundt cakes. She loved this idea but requested that instead of pumpkin flavoring it be an apple cake with cream cheese icing. I said I’d make it, how hard could baking in a bundt cake be?

My inspiration: http://blog.homeseasons.com/2011/09/29/halloween-pumpkin-bundt-cake/

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 eggs 
• 2 cups sugar 
• 1/2 cup applesauce 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 2 cups flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon 
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 
• 4 cups diced peeled apples 

I made the applesauce first (a few days before). It’s basically the same process as making Apple Butter only this time I didn’t add spices because I wanted plain, sugar-free applesauce. I used lemon juice to keep the apple from getting too discolored and I didn’t cook it as long as for the apple butter.

Beat eggs until light and fluffy.

Gradually add sugar,

applesauce,

and vanilla.

Into a separate bowl, stir together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Stir into first mixture.

Core, peel and chop apples before stirring them in.

Grease a 12″ bundt cake pan. I mean seriously grease it, maybe use flour too… Then pour in batter to about 3/4 full.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Let cake cool in pan on a rack for 10 to 15 minutes, then cry when it falls apart and you realize how badly you just failed.

Make batter again. This time pour into two 8″ round pans. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

Let cake cool in pan on a rack for 10 to 15 minutes, then LEAP for JOY because it doesn’t fall apart. Cool completely before spreading with cream cheese frosting.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 1 pkg.(3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth.

Sing Happy Birthday, blow out the candles and make a wish. Happy Birthday Grandma!

Now what am I going to do with the rest of these apples?

What to Eat Prior to Working Out

It’s Workout Wednesday, and on this particular Workout Wednesday I would like to share with you a little secret about fueling your body for workouts.

We all know it’s a bad idea to exercise on an empty stomach, because your body burns muscle tissue when there is no food energy to use (contrary to popular belief, of burning fat in this situation). In fact according to this study, women who ate before working out actually ate less the rest of the day. But, did you know that there are many foods you shouldn’t eat before working out? Some can even cause cramping, dizziness and headaches. After some research I’ve come up with a few ideas of what to eat (and not to eat) before my runs and other workouts.

About 2 hours before:

Grab something full of carbs, protein and healthy fats:

• Cooked quinoa and grilled chicken
• Whole wheat pasta with cheese and veggies
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Greek yogurt with berries and almonds
• Grilled fish, avocado and mango wrap

Avoid fibrous veggies:

• Broccoli
• Onions
• Beans

Avoid high-fat foods:

• Burgers
• French fries
• Ice cream

About 1 hour before:

Eat easily digestible carbs and a little protein:

• Whole wheat toast with nut butter
• Whole grain crackers or pretzels and hummus
• Small bowl of cereal
• Cheese and crackers
• Yogurt and fruit
• Some cottage cheese and grapes
• Half a fruit and nut bar
• Cheese stick and carrots

Aviod gas-producing fruits:

• Pears
• Apples
• Melon

About 15 minutes before:

Enjoy easily digestible carbs:

• Banana
• Applesauce
• Some saltine crackers
• Raisins

Avoid large servings of protein and carbs and high-saturated fat and high-fiber foods:

• Pasta
• Bagel and cream cheese
• Fried chicken
• Granola bar (high fiber)

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Greening Your Home Part 1: Big Purchases

In my opinion home should be two things: an oasis, which makes you feel safe and healthy and a reflection of your personal style. Okay, three things, it should also smell terrific. Whether your home is a sprawling house in the suburbs or a closet-sized apartment in the city home should make you release a sigh at the thought.

Greening your home doesn’t require a decorator or another mortgage. In fact, if you went and replaced everything in your home to “greener” products, you would actually be the anti-green (red?). So let’s break this down: we want to reflect our personal style, we want to feel safe and healthy and we want a nice smell. Over the next couple of weeks I will try to address each of these topics.

Today, let’s talk about the big things for decorating in an Earth-friendly, sustainable way. Furniture, floors, walls and building will be the main focus.

Furniture

The most prominent feature in your home (besides the walls and ceiling and stuff) is probably your furniture. If you really need to replace your furniture you should, just keep in mind it take a lot of energy to manufacture new products and processing emits toxins and chemicals. Here are some alternatives to buying new.

ONE: VINTAGE
Antiquing is an action for a reason: not only can you find carefully made (things were just made better long ago), GORGEOUS furniture, it is completely ecofriendly because no energy is required to produce it (it’s already been made, and used, and maybe used again). Check out local antique stores, flea markets, garage sales, and furniture consignment store (How to shop garage sales etc. coming soon!).

http://www.casasugar.com/Roundup-10-Antique-Desks-Modern-Feminine-Bedrooms-2892134

And if you think antiques are stuffy, or boring, check out the above image, which is totally chic.

TWO: REFURBISH

A little sprucing up can do wonders for furniture, sometimes making it look new and always returning unique results. As an added bonus, upgrading furniture uses 85 to 95 percent less energy than producing a new piece.

THREE: REPURPOSE

In Fort Collins and Boulder, CO there is a company called ReSource Yard. They operate by removing usable cabinets, doors, windows, hardware, lumber, etc. from buildings, which are being remodeled or torn down. They then sell these building materials. My dad made an entertainment center entirely from material bought at the location in Boulder. 

Look for something like this is your area or check before purchasing furniture whether it has been repurposed. Scrapile is a Brooklyn-based company, which uses piano wood scraps to make furniture and home accessories.

FOUR: ECOFRIENDLY PRODUCTION

More and more you can find new furniture in furniture stores made from sustainable materials. Check for Forest Stewardship Council certification on wood. Bamboo is a good choice because a forest of bamboo that has been clearcut can regenerate in as little as 3 years (compared to the average conventional wood forest, which can take 30-50 years, or even longer). Fabrics should be organic (for more about organic products check out future post on organic foods).

FIVE: GIVING

When you DO need to upgrade your furniture, be sure to donate (or give to a poor college student) the old furniture. If you liked it at some point, chances are someone else will like it too. Also, it can’t hurt to get that karma boost from having such a kind-hearted nature. If you feel that your karma is maxed you can also try selling the furniture in a garage sale or on Craig’s List.

Building

FLOORS

If you deside to replace whatever floors you have, please consider the following…

Carpet, though soft and confortable, are loaded with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene, formaldehyde and xylene, all of which are bad for your nervous system and the Earth. Carpet is also very difficult to clean, even if you steam it, therefore they accumulate soot, fungus, flea eggs, dust mite poop, arsenic, mercury and pesticides. Yum!

Instead, opt for either bamboo flooring (for the same reasons mentioned above) or reclaimed/refurbished wood (possibly from a piano factory). Lay out some areas rungs, which are easy to shake out. Look for those made from natural fiber with no nasty glues.

If you absolutely must buy carpet for whatever reason, Interface is a company that, while not completely guilt free, at least uses some recycled and renewable materials in production.

PAINT

Painting is a great way to drastically change the look of a space, but most paints contain high levels of VOCs, which is probably why you get that headache when you paint. The best thing you can do is look for low or no VOCs latex paints or milk-based paints. We don’t want petroleum-based paints (don’t even get me started on petroleum). Check out BioShield paint by Benjamin Moore or Old Fashioned Milk Paint. If you learn nothing else today, learn this: never dump unused paint down the drain! (Also, just covering my bases but please don’t set it on fire… I know you were totally just about to do that.)

WALLPAPER
I know, wallpaper brings to mind scenes of interior design nightmares, but there are some very chic patterns available (it’s making a comeback ya’ll). Most wallpapers are made with vinyl, aka PVC. If you have room to learn two things today, I suggest you learn this too: vinyl is literally the worst. Look for the wallpaper that is vinyl free (since ’93).

That’s all I have today. Leave a comment below if there’s something you’d really like to know more about.

Why I Don’t Make Apple Sandwiches (anymore)

I remember when I first discovered apple sandwiches on pinterest. I thought the idea was so novel and I’m sure you’ve seen the idea floating around the internet. I decided to try it out. It was seriously the best thing I ever tasted. I ate it at least once every day. This is the general process.

Slice the apple. Using a cookie cutter or apple corer cut out the core, or a knife works too but it’s not as neat looking. Can we just take a minute to notice the lime green (I guess you would actually call it apple green) apple shaped cutting board and the lime green (again probably apple green) apple-picture apple corer. This is very matchey-match, is it not? Totally unintentional.

Spread your peanut butter. I like creamy but crunchy works fine.

Sprinkle some granola on two of your apple slices and add chocolate chips or raisins to the other two (or more granola).

Then stick it together.

After a while this process became irksome to me. Peanut butter does not like to stick to apples; I got more on my hands than the slices. The granola always landed everywhere but the peanut butter and precision with the chocolate chips was tedious. So now I cut apples like a normal person…

Add some granola and chocolate chips to a small dish,

Smear in some peanut butter,

And stir it around. It’s the same flavor combination with about half the work. You’re welcome.

Oh boy, you’re in for a treat!

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The Casual Vacancy

I finally had the chance to actually read a book that wasn’t for school (let alone write the review, I finished this book weeks ago!) So here we go: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Where do I begin to describe my feelings about The Casual Vacancy. I guess I’ll start by saying I did not have high hopes for the novel because it was bound to be a disappointment with Harry Potter not on the list of characters and the complete absence of the magical world Rowling is known for creating. In fact what Rowling delivered was a novel about very Dursley-esque, small-minded, self-absorbed, snobbish and judgmental people (Muggles) living in the small, fictional village of Pagford, England.

It is understandable to me that Rowling wanted to stray from Harry Potter and the global phenomenon one boy-wizard caused, especially after spending over a decade within the realm of the wizarding world, and I commend her for taking the risk especially under the crushing pressure of public expectations.

As usual, Rowling drew me in from the get go, not because of the story, which quite frankly was fairly dull, but because of the writing. She certainly has a way with words. At some points I did think some of the scenarios she described or details she included were a bit excessive and did not add to the storyline. I assume she included these things (the grotesquely-described used condom, which was “glistening in the grass beside her feet, like the gossamer cocoon of some huge grub”) to really differentiate herself from children’s writing.

She definitely succeeded in that respect: this story is NOT a children’s book. The pages are full of instances of rape, heroin addiction, domestic abuse, suicide and thoughts of patricide. It is bleak to say the least.

The story begins with a slow-moving description of the political squabbles in the town generated by the sudden death of one of the parish council members, Barry Fairbrother. The most notable face-off being between one faction that is opposed to a public housing project and a clinic for addicts, and another that has a sense of duty toward the less fortunate.

As Rowling wrestles with the dark inner secrets of her characters the story gains momentum with brief flashes of drama and humor, ending abruptly with an unsatisfying solution. The reader is left feeling whatever the opposite emotion is of how we felt at the end of the Harry Potter series. Lost? Depressed? Disheartened?

Instead of absorbing valuable lessons from the characters and plotline (see 15 Things I Learned From Harry Potter) such as bravery, loyalty and kindness, we lose faith in the human spirit, and are left with the a dismaying sense of human weakness and selfishness. It’s as though writing about the real world inhibited Rowling’s miraculously inventive imagination.

Overall, Rowling’s first attempt at writing an “adult” novel was not terrible, let’s just hope she doesn’t try to map out this particular story in seven novels and instead moves onto something a bit more meaningful. I still love you J.K. Rowling, good luck with the next novel!

It’s All About the . . . Heart

Today, not only is it Workout Wednesday but it’s Halloween! And as if your heart’s not pounding enough from fright fests, scary movies, ghouls, goblins, and ghosts, and other Halloween fun, I’m adding another post to my “It’s All About the…” series: cardio.

glitters 123 [dot] com

The difference between cardio exercises and the other five focused-workouts (arms, legs, buns, abs, and girls) is that cardio workouts do not require you to rest the muscles 48 hours between workouts. In fact, most trainer’s encourage at least 20 minutes of elevated heart rate activities every day.

If you’re a runner, or want to become one (my beginner’s guide to running), running is a great cardio exercise. Walking is another (although you must walk quickly enough to keep your heart rate up). On days you just can’t bring yourself to leave the house, there’s “It’s All About the Heart”.

It’s a great series of exercises you can do at home. It’s also great for the park, the office, your dorm room, between classes, the supermarket… well maybe not the supermarket, but you get my point. Now get up, turn on The Monster Mash and get that heart pounding!

Download the free printable workout.

View my workout terms glossary. The following are workout moves you’ll see in this sequence:

High Knees

Start standing and begin jogging in place lifting your knees as high as possible.

Jumping Jacks

Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

Star Jumps

Stand with feet hip-width apart. Squat down and jump up as high as you can. In midair spread your arms and legs wide. As you land in the starting position bend your knees.

Happy Halloween 2012 [dot] com

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Maggie’s mind mumbles about voting

As the election approaches I cannot help but feel the need to write a post about voting. A lot of this post will be personal opinion, and while I can tell you I tend to base my opinions in fact and I try my darnedest to only deliver true information to readers I urge you to use a fact checker for any information you are skeptical about in this post. It’s a good habit to develop whenever you see new information.

Getting (Reliable) Information

During election season we are bombarded with campaign ads. As with an advertisement for a car or brand of make-up, the propaganda shown in these ads is trying to sell you a candidate. The following may help you determine where the information you can trust will (and will not) come from.

Bad information:

• Unsolicited mail
• TV ads
• Unsolicited calls

Intermediate information:

• Government mailed information
• TV debates

Good information:

• Project Vote Smart‘s research
• Factcheck.org
• League of Women Voters material
• Information from organizations you respect
• Cross-checked research in local newspapers

Voting

Voting is one of the most important things you can do in your life. You are the only person who will fight for your beliefs, rights, opinions and thoughts (mumbles too). Whatever is important to you; stand up for it (even if you only fight – for your right – to PAAAAR-TY!) If you don’t hold your position, anyone who disagrees with you can come along and win by default.

It is now too late to register for the upcoming election (you must register at least 30 days prior). If you are registered great! Make sure you do your research and mail in your ballot or show up to the booth on election day. If you aren’t, all is not lost, there are still some things you can do to help improve your community. 

Some Americans may fall into the mind trap that you only need to vote every four years. While the presidential elections are important, I believe that the elections that take place more locally are really MORE important. These elections determine how the schools in your district are run, whether to convert your favorite open space to a new homes development area, or where to build that new bike trail. These issues, seemingly small (especially compared to healthcare and tax reforms) are actually more likely to influence your life in a noticeable way.

Contacting Representatives

Government was established so that individual citizens would have their individual beliefs, values and concerns addressed, but they wouldn’t have to be active in the process; there would be someone out there who’s job it is to focus on these issues. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find someone to represent every individual’s beliefs, values and concerns. Politicians have their own beliefs, values and concerns to deal with on top of those they are representing. Additionally, some politicians are not always truthful when they make promises to the citizens they represent. Therefore, it’s up to you to keep them honest.

Stay Informed

Democracy depends on informed citizens. Be one by keeping up with the important issues that face America. When hit with an indescribable urge to watch Here comes Honey Boo Boo and The Jersey Shore, instead flip to one of these great news programs:

• The News Hour with Jim Lehrer (PBS, weekdays) – Unless Mitt Romney kills PBS (should he be elected) this show provides in depth analysis of current events.
• All Things Considered (National Public Radio, every afternoon) – A radio show, which gives a recap of the day’s news and analysis of pressing issues.
• BBC News (PBS, weekday afternoons and late evenings) – For an international perspective that US media often brushes off in favor of celebrity gossip.
• Washington Week with Gwen Ifill (PBS, Fridays after the News Hour) – Brings together liberal and conservative political and media commentators in a round table to discuss current issues.
• Meet the Press with Time Russert (NBC, Sunday Mornings) – A long tradition of asking politicians the tough but fair questions.
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central, weekdays) – While presented as “fake news” these comedy shows often present an incisive commentary on politics.

A List of the Top Issues America Faces Today

In my opinion the following subjects are the most pressing issues America is facing. Some of these topics create rifts in relationships due to disagreements and some bring people together. The important thing is to know where you stand as this country moves forward, so that you won’t be left behind.

ONE: The Economy
We’re in an awful mess when it comes to the economy. In my humble opinion the hole is so deep that no single person can fill it (I heard someone say once, that until we raise a generation that can live on what they earn, we will never be out of debt). Basically, the “debt” ceiling has been raised multiple times with no plan to repay what is owed.

TWO: Prisons
The US incarcerates a higher percentage of its citizens than any other country in the world. Few dollars are put into reintegration and rehabilitation, therefore prisons are used as a place to lock up societal problems in hopes that they sort themselves out. A safer, more humane and more effective system of crime prevention and treatment programs would benefit our society more than the current system. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
The Center on Juevenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ)

THREE: Reproductive Health
Reproductive health is essential to the economic, political and social empowerment of women around the globe. Access to family planning methods, sexual health information and abortion services are scarce, and/or unavailable to the majority of women. Women deserve the right to healthy, planned pregnancy and quality sexual and prenatal health. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)

FOUR: Energy, the Environment and Climate Change
Human-caused climate change threatens our future, As the temperature of our atmosphere increases, changes in climate have a significant impact on agricultural yields, habitat integrity and vulnerable coastal populations. It is crucial that we work toward a healthier more sustainable society, through greener industry and energy use. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)

FIVE: Inequality
In spite of historical advances made in providing equal opportunities for all individuals, our society still faces challenges of overwhelming inequality.We need to demand a more inclusive society where  each and every person, regardless of race, religion or sex, has educational and occupational opportunities.

SIX: Medicare and Health Care
The parties are divided on how the social security and medicare systems can be made more financially sound. Reducing heath care costs remains one of the more divisive issues politically. The US is the only industrialized country in the world that does not have universal healthcare. Denial of treatment and fights with insurance companies are commonplace in America. Citizens should not have to make a choice between paying their healthcare or paying their rent. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)

SEVEN: Gay and Lesbian Rights
I intended to include gay and lesbian rights under the inequality heading, however after some thought I determined that it deserves it’s own section. After all, minorities are not denied the right to marry or share benefits with loved ones. As long as rights are denied to any individual, couple or parent our society is not really free. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)

EIGHT: Education
This nation is capable of a fantastic education system, we already have many fabulous teachers and schools, unfortunately something is happening causing the nation to fall behind other nations when it comes to education. We need to take a stand and remember that knowledge is power. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
The U.S. Department of Education (USDoE)

Alright, so you have all of these resources available to you that will give you (for the most part) reliable information and you have a list of the most pressing issues facing our nation. There is no excuse to keep yourself in the dark. Enjoy your new found knowledge vectors.

Rainbow Chicken Fajitas

Rainbow Chicken Fajitas are named such because they are made with a rainbow of vegetables. I’m sorry to disappoint those of you who were expecting to see the newest addition to the My Little Ponies family.

This is Rainbow Fajitas; note the chile pepper cutie mark.

Anyway, it’s Food Fun Friday so I’ll get on with the recipe. This is a meal I have been making since I lived at home. It was one of those my mom taught me: basic and quick for nights when we had a lot going on and she didn’t have time to be super creative. Now that I live on my own I make it quite frequently (I often don’t have time to be creative). The point:

• It’s a delicious meal that doesn’t take too much time (prep, cook or clean-up), basically a one pan meal,
• I have made it for friends multiple times and always receive compliments, and 
• when I tell my boyfriend it’s fajita night the response is always enthusiastic (and he doesn’t even like bell pepper that much!)

 Start by preparing your vegetables. I used red, orange and yellow bell peppers because they were a dollar per pepper at the grocery store. I wanted to add more color so I also used a red onion and some zucchini. Any vegetable you have in your inventory would work beautifully; traditionally peppers and onions are involved. Cut everything into somewhat equal-sized sticks.

Set aside the veggies while you cook the chicken. I always use chicken for fajitas because it’s how I learned; I’m sure it is just as simple to use steak. King Soopers just introduced a new meat brand, which is free range, so they were having a sale on all meat produced by this brand (meat sales are the best sales, especially free-range meat sales).

Slice the chicken breast into strips. Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken to the skillet.

Let sizzle for about 3 minutes then flip chicken strips. It’s important to not stir the chicken around in the pan too much because it makes the meat very tough if jostled too much. If you are worried about burning it, reduce the heat (and increase the time cooked).

After another 3 minutes cooking on the other side they should be cooked through, if they aren’t done you can continue cooking now. They also continue cooking while wrapped in foil and later, when added to the skillet again with the vegetables. So I wouldn’t worry too much.

Lay out a piece of aluminum foil on the counter, remove chicken from the pan and place on foil.

Wrap chicken in the foil to keep warm while veggies cook.

Add a little bit more oil to the skillet and heat over medium. Add the prepared vegetables to the skillet.

You can buy the packets at the store, McCormick’s is the only one that I know of that doesn’t pack their seasoning packets with preservatives. I make my own mix and keep it in a spice jar. I use it for tacos and fajita’s both. Sometimes I mix it in with ground turkey for burgers as well, and it’s great for chili. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: multi-purpose is a college girls best friend.

Here is the recipe for my mix:

Cook veggies until tender. Then add about half a cup of water and 3 tablespoons of fajita seasoning, stir the vegetables to coat them in the seasoning. 

Now unwrap your chicken. Pour any liquid that has gathered in your packet out in the sink, then add the chicken to the skillet and stir. Cook until water mostly evaporates.

Serve wrapped in a warm tortilla with beans (I made “refried” beans the same day, what a treat to have beans straight from the crock-pot), cheese, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, etc. Whatever suits your fancy! Smaller fajita tortillas are really the best for this recipe, we only had burrito tortillas and they worked fine. We just had monster fajitas!

Don’t show these to Chipotle; If I ever need a job there, this is evidence against my burrito wrapping skills.

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It’s All About the . . . Abs

Another post in my “It’s all about the…” series prepared for you and delivered on Workout Wednesday. This one focuses on your abdominal muscles and guess what! You will not see a single crunch in this entire post. After mentioning it just then, I will not even say the dirty word again. What a great day!

These ab workouts are designed to boost your metabolism to help get rid of belly fat. However, it’s important to remember that exercising your abs will not get rid of belly fat (flat stomachs are about 90% what you eat) but a strong core is important to help protect your spine.

Make sure you focus on this muscle group three times a week on non-consecutive days. Muscle groups need a 48-hour resting period between workouts.

Download this free printable workout.

For clarification on what to do for each of these sets here are descriptions of the action (full glossary):

Glute Bridge March

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Rest your arms on the floor at should level, with palms facing up. Raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Engage your abs and lift your knee toward your chest, hold then lower. Repeat on other leg.

Hip-Thigh Raise

The same as a Leg Bridge. Lie on back with knees bent. Rest your arms on the floor at should level, with palms facing up. As you lift your hips from the form to form a straight line from shoulders to hips, extend on leg in the air. Hold, then lower foot flat to floor and switch to the opposite leg.

Lunge with Rotation

Grab a 5- to 15-pound dumbbell with both hands. Stand with feet hip-width distance apart and your arms straight out. Take a big step forward with your left foot and, engaging your abs twist your torso to the left as you bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Twist back to center, push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Plank

Set-up the top of a push-up position with your hands directly below your shoulder. A variation of this is to rest on your forearms with elbows directly beneath shoulders. Hold your body completely straight by engaging your abs. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: don’t drop your hips or raise your butt.

Plank with Arm Lift

Get in plank position, with your body in a straight line. Engage your abs and shift weight into one arm. Extend the opposite arm in front of you and hold.

Reverse Lunge with Single-Arm Press

Grab a 5- to 15-pound dumbbell in left hand and hold it next to your left shoulder, palm facing in. Step backward with your left foot and lower your body until your knees are bent 90 degrees while pressing the dumbbell directly over your shoulder without bending or leaning at the waist. Lower the weight back to the starting position and you push back into standing. Do reps then repeat on the right side.

Side Plank

Lie on your side with your legs straight. Prop yourself up with your hand directly below your shoulder (or on your forearm with your elbow directly below your shoulder). Your body should form a diagonal line with your feet stacked on top of each other. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: be sure your hips and knees stay of the floor.

Side Plank with Rotation

In the side plank position, engage your abs and reach your hand toward the ceiling. Slowly tuck this arm under your body and twist forward until your torso is almost parallel to the floor. Return to side plank.

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Let me know how it goes!

Can the ocean keep up with the hunt?

I watched this video in my Wildlife Ecology and Conservation class (FW104) and answer a few questions about it. I found the information to be very important, especially to a fish lover like myself. I also wanted to pass it on because, as anyone who has been following this blog or knows me will have heard me say before, it is critical for everyone to understand where their food is coming from and how it is produced. So here is the video; it’s about 20 minutes:

 In case you don’t have the time to view this video here are the main ideas:

Commercial Fishing

• The ocean is what they call a biological desert. For it’s size, diversity is actually very low.
• The fish population in the open ocean is being exhausted due to over-fishing through commercial fishing operations and pirate ships (ARR!).
• We aren’t catching the same fish species for consumption as we have in past decades. As larger fish disappear, global fleets target smaller fish, lower on the food chain. This leads to further collapses in the ocean ecosystem.
• 20 million metric tons of fish are discarded as waste annually. Untargeted fish are called bycatch. This unintended harvest is equal to a catch 4 times that of the US fishing fleet. 

 http://jonbowermaster.com/blog/2009/06/kamchatska-v-kodiak-what-a-difference-225-years-make/

• Fishing gear that have had considerable impact on bycatch include bottom-trawling nets (nets are run along the bottom of the ocean, capturing everything they come across) and long-line fishing (thousand of lines with hooks are trailed behind ships, with no system to discriminate species). Both forms are meant to catch large amount of fish at once and are prone to catching endangered species like sharks and sea turtles, who die before they can be returned to the water.
• Hook fisherman leave the habitat intact by one fisherman, fishing with one pole and one hook. They catch one fish, keep it if it’s what they want and throw it back if it’s not. No damage is done to the ecosystem but it is not practical for the vast quantities of fish demanded by the public.
• In extreme cases, it is very hard for fish stocks to recover, especially if fishing continues at the same rate. The solutions are to either stop fishing all together or…

Aquaculture

• The USA is the leader in aquaculture, or the practice of farming fish. The main type of fish that are farmed are tuna and salmon.
• The problem with aquaculture, especially tuna and salmon, is that these are carnivorous fish. In order to farm these fish, we must feed them. This increases pressures on fishing, but instead of fishing for direct consumption we fish for smaller fish to feed the larger fish for indirect consumption.
• It takes 17 pounds of fish to produce one pound of tuna; three pounds to produce one pound of salmon.
• Tilapia, from the Nile River, is an omnivore and can be raised mostly on plant-based proteins.
• Catfish farming in the Mississippi delta, has experienced great successes. Feeding them has gone from 10-14% fish meal to 1-2% fish meal today. 
• Shellfish farming is also a good business. They stay quiet, they stay where you put them and they clean up the water. They also produce vast amounts of food in a small area; according to the video shellfish could be the answer to world hunger.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_salmon

• There are a few risks to human health associated with aquaculture due to bioaccumulation: PCBs and dioxins are two examples.
• Natural salmon are less exposed to bioaccumulation problems because they consume mainly crustaceans whereas farm fish eat fish meal. In fact, natural salmon have pink flesh due to their diet of shrimp and crustaceans (much like flamingos), and farm salmon are dyed pink before they are sold at market. Gross!
• With farmed fish we are concerned about disease and infection so we use antibiotics in feed as a preventative measure; this could lead to resistant bacteria. 
• Disease and infection is more of a problem in farms than in the wild. They use this analogy to describe this: if you stood on a football field with someone who has a cold you probably won’t catch it (the wild) but if you stood in an elevator with 11 people who all have colds you will probably also catch cold (fish farm).

 

http://blog.zintro.com/2011/05/20/there-is-a-lot-going-on-in-aquaculture/

• Large number of escaped farm salmon may impact the integrity of the wild population by messing with thousands of years of natural selection.
• Tropical areas have many mangrove wetland habitats (mangrove forests) that have been displaced by shrimp farming. This destroys habitat that the people and wildlife depend on (ex. crab production and medicinal plants). A particular example is salt water released from ponds contaminated fresh water aquifers.
• Deep water aquaculture is where net cages are submerged and anchored to the sea floor. Could be better for ecosystems than near or on land aquaculture depending on implementation.
• Improvements in vaccines have reduced antibiotic use. Improved nets and anchors have reduced escapes, land-based tanks protect wild populations from farm-waste and disease.

Want to do something?

Unfortunately, most people don’t pay attention to where their food comes from. Do you think you’ll pay more attention now that you have this information?

If yes, there are many resources available to you and I hope you’ll check them out:

• Seafood watch is the top choice for discovering where your fish came from at restaurants or supermarkets. It is run by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
• Marine stewardship council is now assisting in certification of sustainable fisheries. Their website is full of information.
• Ask Congress to set standard by signing this petition.
• S. 1980, Pirate Fishing Elimination Act. Track this bill. 

 

• I keep this seafood watch guide in my wallet (mine’s from April 2007, a friend brought it to me when she visited California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium). You can print out your own from the website. 
• Seafood watch also has and app for Apple and Android.

 

http://www.123rf.com/photo_13172672_healthy-food-hot-baked-salmon-piece-served-over-glass-plate-on-wood.html

Now I love salmon as much as the next person (maybe more depending on who’s next) but I know I’m going to always check where my fish is coming from, what about you?

Slow-cooker (not so) Refried Beans

I honestly had no idea the you could make refried beans at home. Or at least I never really thought about it. It’s most likely because I am probably the only person in the world who actually enjoys re-fried beans from a can, Rosarita vegetarian refried beans to be specific (which coincidentally have the exact same ingredient list as the ones not specifically marked vegetarian).

I pinned a while back a tutorial for cooking dried beans in the slow cooker over at Budget Bytes. As I was reading through it for the garbanzo beans I used in the Butternut Squash Autumn Stew, I noticed a recipe in the side-bar for “not refried beans.” I was intrigued so I clicked the link. I guess you can’t really call these “refried” or even “fried,” because they are cooked in the slow-cooker. But they do taste very like refried beans. In fact, I think they taste better because they aren’t weighed down with a million pounds of lard (actually there is no fat added).

The story actually starts about a month ago. I bought this bag of pinto beans because it was $2.00.

That’s right, that says 4lbs. So I had this bag of beans with not really a clue what I should do with it. And that’s when I discover the not re-fried beans recipe. It was fate. So I measure out the 2 cups of beans required for this recipe and got creative with my storage of the remaining 3 pounds (2 cups of beans equals 1 pounds, in case you were wondering. Now you know).

So, since it’s Food Fun Friday, I will now instruct you in the delicate art and science of slow-cooker beans. Measure out 2 cups of beans (1 pound). Sort and wash the beans, then chop up one medium-sized onion and add it to the slow-cooker.

Then add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp cumin, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder and 1 tsp black pepper.

Next, add the sorted and washed beans along with 6 cups of water and, say it with me now “Set it and forget it.” (Set it: low, forget it: 8 hours or 4-5 hours on high). Return to a heavenly smell and this:

Removed some of the liquid (about 1 1/2 cups) to make it easier to mash the beans. Then using a potato masher start smooshing (this is a technical term) the beans. You could also use a hand mixer.

Smoosh until there are only a few recognizable beans remaining. Then store it all in airtight containers.

The original recipe says that this make about the same amount as 3 cans, but this quantity shouldn’t scare you because it is freezable. It was wonderful in the burrito I had for dinner (There really is no better taste than re-fried beans and melted cheese). It would be a perfect layer in 7-layer dip or by itself with tortilla chips.

Burrito Making 101:

Spread the beans

 

Sprinkle the cheese

 Broil on lo in the oven for about 10 minutes

Enjoy every bite!

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It’s All About the . . . Buns

It’s Workout Wednesday on Maggie’s Mind Mumbles: Here’s a free printable workout, made especially for you…

If you are looking to tone your cheeks and the mighty squats challenge didn’t work for you this workout might be more up your alley. It’s another workout in my “It’s all about the…” series, this time focused on your buns.

Just 5 moves, 1-5 times per day, 3 times per week and your on your way to a nice round boot-ay. Just make sure you do it on three non-consecutive days each week, as muscles groups need 48-hours of rest between exercising.

Download this free printable workout.

Don’t forget to check out my workout terms glossary.

These are the moves in this workout:

Elevated Bridge Lift

Lie on back with legs extended and heel resting on an elevated surface (stair step, chair, step, low table). Lift right leg straight over hip, foot flexed. Slowly lift hips off floor until body forms a straight line from left heel to shoulders. Lower body back down to floor. Do reps then switch to other leg.

Extended Squats

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Immediately rise out of squat, lift heels off floor, rising onto tiptoes, and raise arms straight overhead. Hold then release returning to squat position.

Squat Dip

Stand two feet from front of chair or other elevated surface, facing away, feet hip-width apart, hands on hips. Lift leg and place top of foot on surface behind you. Lower into a single-leg squat, keeping right knee behind right toes and dipping left knee toward the floor, straighten right leg to stand. Do reps then switch legs.

Step Kick-back

Stand facing an elevated stable surface (chair, stair step, step low table) feet hip-width apart, hands on hips. Step onto surface with right foot and lift bent knee to hip level in front of you. Hinge forward slightly from waist and kick left leg behind you. Bring knee back to hip level as you straighten up. Lower left foot to floor and lunge right leg behind you. That’s one rep, repeat reps then switch legs.

Tree Twist

Stand on tiptoes, feet together, a couple of feet behind a chair or other belly button level stable item you can hold onto. Place hands on chair (or other item) and keeping back flat, hinge forward from waist and lift bent left knee to hip level in front of you, left foot by right knee. Keeping upper body still and left foot by right knee, slowly bring left knee directly out to side, slowly return knee to center. Do reps on tiptoes then switch legs.

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10 Myths About "Green" Living

You may not notice it in everyday life but current trends show a decrease in agricultural lands and wilderness as urban areas spread. Consumerism rules the hearts and minds of U.S. citizens and pollution and species decline are on the rise. Turning these trends around will take action on the individual level. We can’t leave it up to the arguably corrupt political system in this country, which panders to exploitative special interests. We can’t leave it up to the extremist organizations. If the individual learns their own behavior and realizes their own impact and how these contribute to destructive trends we can create opportunities.

 

Adopting better habits doesn’t require wealth, unreasonable time commitments or a complete overhaul of your life. These are just a few of the misconceptions about “green” living that many Americans believe. Consider these and the following myths and their corresponding truths in order to take the first steps in your commitment to creating a better world.

1. “Green” living is a virtuous trait, not an obligation

While some people do make their commitment to green living a personality trait, we have to remember that it is the obligation of every individual to leave the planet in the same or better condition than how we found it. Since it is now commonly known that human activities are the biggest threat facing the global ecosystem, the only solution is for humans to clean up their mess. Do you expect the hummingbirds to do it? Maybe some rocks will help out.

2. It will be too disruptive and difficult to change my current lifestyle

There will probably be a period of adjustment as one makes the commitment to living more simply and reducing their impact, but difficult and disruptive are not necessarily the descriptive words I would choose to describe this period. Especially since it will probably have to be a gradual change, little things over the course of many weeks. This study gives some insight into how to develop new habits including a Japanese technique called Kaizen. Any activity repeated over a period of time can become a habit.

3. “Green” products are hard to find and expensive

In some cases, for example energy efficient appliances, this is true however in the long run these products save money in other areas, like your energy bill. On the other hand many earth-friendly products are actually less expensive than their conventional counterparts because they are often made using recycled or reclaimed materials, which require less processing and output less waste. Additionally the sustainable products industry is growing as more and more costumers prefer the earth-friendly alternative. Just remember that every purchase you make is a vote for more of that product, and producers listen.

4. Earth-friendly preferences and behaviors will make me look cheap and eccentric

To some, yes, but only those that do not understand the needs of our society and environment. Anyway acute intelligence and enlightenment have always been perceived as eccentric. However, there are ways to be thrifty and chic, something I will elaborate more fully on in a later post. Additionally Dr. Seuss says it best, “Those who matter don’t mind and those who mind, don’t matter.” Remember that.

5. “Green” living requires a frugality that will deprive me and my family of comforts and conveniences I’ve earned

Reasonable comforts and conveniences needn’t be sacrificed when making this commitment to a simpler life. The scale or quantity to which you’ve become accustomed to may need to be reduced but you may be surprised to learn that designer home furnishings, state-of-the-art appliances, a fancy schmancy car, fine cuisine and exotic vacations are available in earth-friendly forms. By taking a step away from the consumerism which drives many peoples lives you may just find a more satisfying, healthier, simpler and more balanced life.

6. The economy will suffer if I stop buying conventionally

Businesses and companies follow the consumer; if the consumer wants more eco-friendly products available at a lower price, the producer will supply it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, every purchase you make is a vote for what you want to buy.

7. I don’t have time to support environmental causes

You can choose how much time, if any, you want to give to support any cause that is important to you. The internet has made it simple to sign a petition or receive timely information at your convenience.

8. It’s hypocritical to advocate and practice environmentally friendly behaviors in some, but not all, areas of my life

Living the earth-friendly way is not the end of the road. It’s an evolution of states. No one can do it all because there is no all to do. There’s always something else you can learn, something else you can start practicing, something else you can sign a petition for. This is not meant to sound over-whelming, it’s meant to sound exciting, there are so many options for how you can do your part in a way that fits your lifestyle.

9. I can’t change anything if some people aren’t doing anything at all

Your efforts, no matter how small, in reducing your footprint makes a difference in that the collective footprint has been reduced. You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Ghandi said that so it must be true.

10. There’s only one right answer to climate change

This is beyond not true. Experts can’t agree on any answer to the problem because there is not one right answer. In my opinion the best answer starts with the individual and that means Y-O-U.

Now that you know the truth about some of the pressing issues surrounding living sustainably are you ready to make a pledge to be “green”? Comment below if you are.

Butternut Squash Autumn Stew

The air feels crisp and cool, leaves are creating a beautiful mosaic of colors across the landscape and the days are growing shorter, which means it’s time to make soup!

Every year I always elect to craft a butternut squash stew; to me it screams fall. Therefore every year as the sales on butternut squashes begin I pick one up. I must be blocking the fact that every year it’s actually me who’s screaming (and fall is not mentioned once in said screaming). I wonder why I never remember how awful it is to deal with butternut squashes probably some psychological blockage. Well I am reminding you now to save you the trouble. They are literally the worst vegetable. And here’s why:

1. They are impossible to slice into when raw. Are they made of steel or what?
2. You also cannot peel them when raw. They wear the armor of the gods.
3. After you cook them, you can’t peel them without burning the skin right off your fingers.

On the other hand, butternut squash is also one of the most delicious vegetables and they’re packed with vitamins and other wonderful things your body needs. So here’s my solution, buy a bag of frozen, cubed butternut squash and save yourself the hacking, prying, swearing, and crying.

If you, like me, enjoy torturing yourself this is how you tackle the Monty-Python-and-the-Holy-Grail-bunny-like squash:

(Aside: this is a somewhat obscure reference so I will spell it out for you: the knights in the movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, underestimated the rabbit because it was cute and cuddly and did not intimidate them; then the bunny lurched at one of them and ate his face off. The butternut squash appears inviting and agreeable but then it turns on you becoming an impenetrable fortress. Was this allegory too much of a leap?)

Right, sorry about the silliness… Back to squash (which is in no way silly):

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F
2. Cut the squash in half. Spoon out seeds and goop (technical term); save seeds.
3. Pour a thin layer of water into a baking pan or cookie sheet with sides.
4. Place the cut side of the squash face down in the water.
5. Slide tray into oven and bake for 40 minutes or until fork easily pierces flesh of squash.

Toss the seeds with salt and toast in toaster oven until crispy 🙂

While the squash is baking, prepare your other veggies. Finely chop 1 medium onion, peel 3 potatoes and an apple, then chop, setting one potato aside from the others.

Bring 3 1/2 cups of chicken broth to a boil. Add 1 1/2 pound chicken thighs and boil until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove chicken from broth and place on a plate to cool. Pour broth into a bowl.

Meanwhile bring about 3 cups of water to boil in a separate pot. Add the apple and two of the potatoes. Cook until tender then drain water and add to a food processor. When squash is finished baking scoop half of the squash into the food processor and set the other half aside to cool. Pulse the potato, apple and squash until smooth. This thickens and adds a creaminess to the soup/stew without adding fat.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and the third potato cook until onions are translucent, add 2 minced cloves garlic, 1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (we enjoy spicy food here, feel free to reduce or omit this ingredient if you prefer non-spicy), 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon allspice and 1/8 teaspoon ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground mustard, and 1/8 teaspoon celery salt. Stir until you catch a strong whiff of garlic (about 30 seconds), then pour in the reserved chicken broth. Reduce heat to simmer.

With a fork and knife and fingers… remove the skins from the chicken. Then remove the chicken from the bones. Add chicken to simmering pot. Then add pureed potato, apple, squash mixture to the pot. Add one 15-oz can petite diced tomatoes as well (with liquid).

Return to the other half of the squash that you set aside. Cut cubes into the squash and remove skin. Add squash cubes to the pot. Then add 1 cup (ish) chickpeas/garbanzo beans. Stir until everything is heated. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper (or to taste).

Serve over cooked quinoa or brown rice or with bread.

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Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds butternut squash, halved and seeded
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1.5 lb chicken thighs
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 can diced petite tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 3 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 apple, peeled and cubed
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
• salt and pepper to taste (about 1 teaspoon each)
• 1 cup garbanzo beans

Well that’s a long list now isn’t it… trust me it’s worth it! (See that bowl of apples? my grandma gave me even more after I made the apple butter… look out for apple cake and applesauce posts coming soon!)

What’s your favorite fall soup?

It’s All About the . . . Girls

It’s Workout Wednesday: YAY! Here’s a printable workout for you…

This post in my “It’s All About the…” series (see Arms and Legs) is about a problem all women face: gravity. You see gravity is a very strong force that causes certain… things to sag as time goes on. The good news is we can fight gravity and prevent these consequences of aging with simple and effective workouts like this one.

I actually got this workout from Self.com so you can thank them for the clever names. You can view the slideshow by following the link. All you need is medium resistance bands to do this workout on 3 non-consecutive days each week to stop the sag and add perk up the girls.

Download the free printable version.

Description of workout (full glossary):

Breast-in-Show Row

Stand on left leg, loop band around right foot and hold an end in each hand. Extend right leg and arms out in front of you to start. Bend arms and draw elbows straight back. Be careful not to hunch forward; keep back straight and shoulders down and back. Slowly release arms, keeping leg extended. Do reps and switch legs.

Bust a Move

Stand in a side lunge, right leg bent and right foot turned out at an angle. Place one end of a band under right foot. Bend at waist so chest points over right thigh toward floor and hold arms extended out to sides to start. In one fluid motion, pull the brand up and back, diagonally across body, as you raise torso and rotate it open. Slowly return to start. Do reps then repeat on opposite side.

Cleavage Kickback

Stand on an exercise band, feet hip-width apart, holding an end in each hand. With arms down at sides, squat and bend slightly at waist, keeping back flat. Draw the band behind you, keeping arms straight, squeezing shoulder blades together and feeling chest stretch open. Slowly release arms for one rep.

Full Circle

Start in a push-up position on knees or toes with hands set wide. In one fluid, circular motion, shift weight to right arm, lower yourself to the floor, the shift weight across body to left arms and push yourself back to start. Do reps then change direction.

Glute Bridge March

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Rest your arms on the floor at should level, with palms facing up. Raise your hips so your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Engage your abs and lift your knee toward your chest, hold then lower. Repeat on other leg.

Perky Pike

Start in an inverted-V pike position, hands and feet on floor, butt lifted high, to start. Lower left forearm to floor, then lower right forearm to floor. Straighten left elbow the right elbow, to return to start for one rep. Do reps then reverse order.

Sag Stopper

Start in a lunge with a band looped under back foot. Hold an end in each hand buy shoulders, arms bent and parallel to the floor, elbows behind you. Press arms straight out to front, level with shoulders. Slowly and with control, bring arms back to start so you feel chest stretch open. Do reps then repeat on opposite side.

Superwoman Slide

Start in a push-up position, hands directly under shoulders, resting on paper or plastic plates (for carpet) or washcloths (on wood or linoleum) as gliders. Keeping arms straight, slowly slide them out in front of you in a V shape to lower chest toward floor. Hover above floor if possible, and then rest on floor. Bend arms to slide hands under shoulders and push up to start.

X-Raise

Stand with feet hip-with distance apart, the end of a band under each foot. Hold the other end in the opposite hand so band crisscross in front of you, hands at sides. Bend knees and squat extending arms out slightly to sides. As you straighten legs to stand, simultaneously reach up and out. Return to squat.

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It’s been a month . . .

I have officially been a Blogger blogger for one month after switching from blogging with WordPress and it has been quite a process to move. I’ve been recording all the things I did in order to make the switch because I could not find a straight answer all in one place during my move. This made it a very complicated, technical and sometimes stressful experience for me. However, I think I am down to the last steps in the move (tiny details that I am probably the only person who will ever notice), and I am very pleased with my decision to switch.

Why I switched:

• Personal preference was a major factor. I have now used both the WordPress and Blogger platforms for blogging and personally I’m a Blogger girl.
• Part of this preference for Blogger is due to the new design and seamless connection with all Google software such as AdSense and Google+
• I didn’t like that WordPress only allows bloggers who own their domain to add advertisements. I am very new to blogging and I’m not ready to make that kind of commitment (It’s too soon, I’m too young!) I love that Blogger, and the affiliation with Google allows AdSense.
• I am new to Google+ but I really enjoy this mode of social networking. It’s awesome to have it synched so easily to my blog.
• Additionally, I believe Blogger is easier to use, or at least more intuitive, but this is personal preference.
• Finally, a somewhat superficial reason, you can change color, font and background of words with blogger, something that is only available to domain owning bloggers on WordPress.

Router Freak [dot] com

A list of things to do:

1. Research. Make sure it’s really what you want, like I said, this is a complicated process full of headaches, sadness and hair-pulling. Don’t go through it just to find out you prefered the old way better.
2. Export old blog. In WordPress go to your Dashboard > Tools > Export > Download export file > Save. If you already have posted in Blogger go to Customize > Settings > Export blog > Dowload File > Save to be sure the new file won’t overwrite these posts (it shouldn’t but better safe than sorry right?). Use this application to translate your WordPress file to a Blogger compatible file. Then go to Blogger and go to Customize > Settings > Import blog > Select file > Import
3. Check that all posts are correctly formatted (I had to go through and edit the captions and re-center all images).
4. Set-up your new blog before going public with it. You don’t have to be super knit-picky about it but make sure things are generally the way you want them before informing your readers you’ve moved. That way when they arrive at your new home it will look lovely and clean, not like a construction zone with caution tape draping across every wall.
5. Post a goodbye post to old platform to redirect followers to new blog. Also post to other social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook your new blog location.
6. Use a redirect program to automatically send people to new post when they try to go to old post. Unfortunately you can’t do this without owning the domain. Kind of a Catch-22 if you ask me, nobody ever seems to ask me though.
7. Go through old pages on old blog and relink old posts to new posts. This took ages and probably isn’t completely necessary if you are willing to lose some page views. I wasn’t.
8. Find link ups in old posts and link to new posts. Another very tedious step which I am still working on. All my posts in my new blog that were imported from the old blog link to posts that are on the old blog instead of to these same posts on the new blog. The links are just a web of lies.

Gabriel Weinberg [dot] com

Consequences:

• Only hardcore readers will follow you to your new blog (thanks guys!) so expect a drop in your readership. The return to previous view counts did not take as long as I expected though.
• I’ve said it multiple times throughout this post but you should really understand that this is very time consuming process. Add all of this on top of keeping up with new blog posts and you’re in for a rough couple of weeks.
• Getting used to the new blogging platform takes time but when I go back to WordPress I find that it, while once the only way to blog for me, is now confusing and Blogger makes sense. Brains are weird. Give yours a chance to adjust before throwing in the towel.

On the bright side, if you love blogging and have decided that you need to make the switch it is probably all going to be worth it. Keep your spirits high and remember why you started your blog in the first place.

Cute Girly Quotes and Sayings [dot] blogspot [dot] com

Which platform do you prefer and why?

Just say no . . . to canned beans

It’s Food Fun Friday, and after you read this post you will seriously be kicking yourself that you haven’t been cooking your own beans in the slow cooker all along.

3 Reasons to buy dried beans over canned beans:

1. Money – You can get three cans worth of beans from a single bag of dried beans. Taking that into consideration it’s cheaper in the long run.
2. Health – Canned beans have a ton of sodium in them. All that extra salt is unnecessary and unhealthy. Dried beans on the other hand are simply beans, not other ingredients (except the occasional pebble, which you should refrain from eating as a rule of thumb)
3. Environment – buying in bulk is better for the environment because there is less packaging and therefore less waste.

Are you convinced yet? If not, perhaps the ease of the process will help… To the tutorial!

Empty the beans onto a flat surface and remove any bad looking beans, pebbles etc. Pour into a colander and rinse with warm water. Add beans to your slow-cooker.

For every pound (2 cups) of beans add 6 cups of water.

Leave to cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. There will still be water in the cooker even when they are done. They should be tender.

Remove from slow-cooker either by draining in a colander or with a slotted spoon. Store in an airtight container. This makes about three cans of beans, but don’t worry about the quantity, if needed beans are freezable.

This tutorial applies to all kinds of beans. We don’t discriminate here on Maggie’s Mind Mumbles.

Keep your eyes peeled for Fall-is-here stew using these chickpeas/garbanzo beans!

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Questions? Comments? Leave them below.

It’s All About the . . . Legs

Hello! It’s Workout Wednesday and guess what, I have another free printable workout for your fitness pleasure!

Did you know that leg exercises burn more calories than any other muscle groups? This is because your legs are the largest muscle group in your body, which means it takes more energy to move them.

Another workout sequence to add to the “It’s all about the…” series: legs. These moves are designed to tone and strengthen your upper and lower legs muscles. The secret to exercising your legs is slow, controlled movements. For stronger, leaner legs the goal isn’t to get your heart rate up (see It’s All About the Heart: coming soon!), the goal is to use motion to purposefully fatigue the muscle.

On three non-consecutive days each week, do this workout. All muscle groups need a 48-hr resting period between training. To make the workout more intense, hold weights in hands during lunges or attach ankle weights during any of these moves.

Download the free printable workout.

View my workout terms glossary. Exercises in this workout sequence:

Forward Lunge

Take a big step forward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Leg Bridge

Lie on back with knees bent. Rest your arms on the floor at should level, with palms facing up. As you lift your hips from the form to form a straight line from shoulders to hips, extend on leg in the air. Hold, then lower foot flat to floor and switch to the opposite leg.

Leg Lift

Lay down on your side, hip on the floor, and prop yourself up on your forearm. Lift your top leg straight up into the air. Lower it back down without touching your bottom leg. Repeat.

Plie Jump

Starting from a wide stance turn your toes to face out. Bend your knees then pressing up from your toes jump straight up. As you land bend your knees again.

Reverse Lunge

Take a big step backward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Wall Sit

Press your back against a wall. Keep back flat against the wall slide down until knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Hold.

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Pumpkin Spice Muffins with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts

On the first day of October it only seems fitting to post a recipe for pumpkin muffins…

Whenever I make up a new recipe it is always a messy process. The first step is always the idea that acts as a catalyst for the rest. In this case the trigger was pumpkin. As the chill in the air gets stronger I always start craving pumpkin everything. It doesn’t help matters that Starbucks incessantly advertises the pumpkin spice latte, or that the scent of pumpkin bagels can be detected wafting halfway across campus, or that people insist on pinning every pumpkin recipe that comes under detection. Regardless of how the idea came to me, come it did.

The next step is generally in what form do I want to eat the craving (sometimes this is linked to the first step, as in “I am craving tomato soup,” rather than simply tomato). I decided muffins would be the best mode of consumption. Muffins are compact on-the-go type foods. Sometimes you need that kind of thing around the house.

Then comes the Googling and the comparing and the improvising. I tend to have about 13 web pages open along with at least two cookbooks on my lap. “A cup and a half of oil; that’s outrageous! I’ll need to reduce that, Maple syrup? Nope don’t have any of that, I’ll use brown sugar… What’s the conversion factor again? Baking powder, baking soda, salt… How can I slip some flax seed in? Can I use almond milk and yogurt instead of milk?”

It’s a nightmare, honestly. But, it’s definitely rewarding when something wonderful comes out of all this hard work. Luckily this is one of those times. This is what my recipe card looked like after all of that.

I wanted to use flax seed to give them some more nutrition. Flax seed can increase the fiber, unsaturated healthy fats, phytoestrogens and omega-3 content when added to foods.

 In a medium-sized mixing bowl add 1 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup flax seed, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda and a pinch of salt.

I wanted a lot of spice flavor so for the spices I used cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and allspice. I prefer the flavor of ceylon “true” cinnamon because it is sweeter than the cassia variety (most of the store bought cinnamon is cassia). Cinnamon is my favorite flavor, in Maggie’s world, we look for excuses to add cinnamon.

To the flour mixture add, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon allspice and 1/4 teaspoon cloves.

Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin is the best pumpkin puree out there. I’m not usually able to tell the difference between store-brand and name-brand products so I tend to stick with store-brand because they are cheaper. In this case there is no comparison. I am generally disappointed with the quality of the store-brand pumpkin purees.

Pour the entire 15-ounce can of pumpkin into a larger mixing bowl. (Be sure to remove any large metal items that fall in).

Add 3/4 cup brown sugar to the bowl.

Next add 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt.

Then an egg…

Mix it all together then add the dry ingredients.

Whisk together all the ingredients until just mixed.

Then add about 1 1/2 cups of your mix-ins (I used 3/4 cup walnuts and 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips).

Spoon into greased muffin tins. Each cup should be between 1/2 and 2/3 full. (I hope this picture doesn’t give you vertigo. I’ve rotated it every possible way, it’s just a weird angle).

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 375 degrees.

Cool in pan for ten minutes then remove and continue cooling on a wire rack.

Yummy! Hello autumn; I welcome you with open arms…

…as long as I can eat one of these everyday for the duration of the season. Please and thank you!

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Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

I’m not really sure when or why this obsession started but I am an absolute grilled cheese fanatic! And don’t even get me started on tomato soup. Campbell’s tomato soup is a staple in my kitchen. But wouldn’t you know, it’s not really the healthiest of choices: it’s packed with sodium and sugar (as most condensed soups are), so I have been avoiding buying it lately.

The other night I had an extreme craving, it was intense (like camping… get it? *nudge nudge*). And, can you believe, I had nary a can of the delicious red stuff, like I said I’ve been avoiding it. BUT, I did just happen to have four large tomatoes. I thought to myself, as I often do, “I could probably whip together some tomato soup from these… How hard could it be?” Later that night, as I was enjoying my wonderful warm cheesey sandwich covered in tomato-ey soupiness I answered myself: “Not hard at all… not… hard… at all.”

So here’s what I did. (I only made enough for two bowls because I didn’t want too much leftover, so double or even triple to recipe for a larger batch).

First, I cored the tomatoes (no goopy middle in my soup!) and cubed them. Then I sliced half an onion, crushed a LARGE clove of garlic, (seriously, it probably was about 3 regular sized cloves). I put all of this into a large pot and then I added 2 bay leaves (they’re kinda old so I have to use two). I also poured in a cup of water, and tossed in a chicken boullion cube, 2 teaspoons of black peppercorns, and 1 teaspoon cloves.

I brought this to a boil and left to simmer, covered for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes I poured it into the food processor and blended until it was smooth. (For a thinner soup, run it through a food mill instead of the food processor. I don’t have a food mill but I’ve been told it’s a magical experience to make soup with one.)

I then made a roux in the empty pot using 2 tablespoons of butter, melted, and 2 tablespoons of flour. I cooked that over medium heat until it was light brown and then poured the vegetable mixture back into the pot. (look at that beautiful moment captured on film, a bubble popped… electric) (<— that was a Gwen Stefani reference)

I added 1 teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons sugar and brought it back to a boil. Then I let it simmer again while I made my grilled cheese.

I melted some butter in a pan,

placed a slice of bread on top and spread it around to coat the bread in the butter,

sprinkled some cheese over the bread (ALWAYS use shredded cheese in grilled cheese. It may be a bit more technical to flip but it melts much more evenly),

topped it with another slice of bread,

and cooked until the cheese was mostly melted, (oops! slightly burnt)

Before flipping I added some more butter and let that melt, then I placed the sandwich over the butter and spread it around again.

Then I dished out some tomato soup into a bowl, cut the sandwich in half and settled down to watch an episode of Futurama. 😉

Oh my, that looks so good; I’m going to have to make this again!

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One thing is certain, I will not be needing to buy Campbell’s in a can anymore.

It’s All About the . . . Arms

“It’s all about the…” is a series of workouts I have created that focus on specific areas. Todays workout is about arms. This is for no particular reason except that I needed an arm workout. The other day I raised my hand in class and noticed a jiggly-wobbly bit hanging down. I said to my arm, “This is unacceptable behavior, I didn’t expect it from you of all body parts. Now get back in line!”

Yeah… we’re working on that.

Here’s my workout. I do it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; the key is to do it on three non-consecutive days every week. You only need to do it one time through due to the repetitive nature of the actions.

Download this free printable workout.

I have also created a glossary for workout terms in case they are obscure or I use different names than what other people call things. Feel free to check that out. 

These are the terms used in this workout:

Back Row

Standing with legs hip-width distance apart bend your knees slightly. Lean your upper body forward. Hold a weight in each hand, arms at side and palms facing in. Pull your elbows up behind your body until your arms are at a 90-degree angle at the elbow. Release to starting.

Bicep Curl

Hold a weight in each hand, arms down, and palms forward. Bending at the elbow lift the weight to your shoulders. Release weight back to starting position.

Half-Bicep Curl

Similra to bicep curls but instead of lifting the weights all the way to your shoulders stop when your forearms are parallel to the floor and release to starting.

Pushup

Lay on your belly with hand flat on the floor on either side, forearms perpendicular to the floor. Stiffen body and literally push yourself away from the ground, hinging at the toes. When arms are straight hold and with control release your body, hover above the ground and repeat.

Shoulder Press

Hold a weight in each hand above your shoulders, next to your ears. With palms facing in life the weights straight up until your arms are straight directly over your shoulders. release to starting position.

Tricep Dip

Find an elevated surface such as a step, a coffee table over a chair. Place your palms on the surface directly behind your body. Hold yourself up and gently lower yourself down using your arms. When your arms make a 90-degree angle behind you lift yourself back up to the starting position.

V-Lift

Hold a weight in each hand, arms at your side with palms facing in. Lift with straight arms and open them into a v-shape until arms are parallel with the floor.  Hold then carefully release to starting position.

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Enjoy.

Stop looking because these are the best brownies you will ever find…

As many of you know I am a firm believer in eating healthy. I am also a firm believer that denying yourself something is not healthy, especially when that something is chocolate. So to clarify my firm beliefs… Moderation is key. That is why everyone needs to have a good brownie recipe. I honestly think it should be included in life’s handbook. 

Here’s some information on chocolate (*I am not a doctor, please consult your doctor for more information on the following*):

• Cocoa contains flavenol, a type of flavenoid and natural occurring antioxidant, which researchers suggest may protect neurons (Huffington Post, 2012)
• The antioxidants in cocoa can also prevent aging caused by free radicals, which may lead to heart disease (Cleveland Clinic, 2012)
• Dark chocolate may lower blood pressure and cholesterol (Longevity, 2009)
• Dark chocolate contains theobromine, caffeine and other stimulating substances (Longevity, 2009)
• It also contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant (Longevity, 2009)
• Dark chocolate also increases endorphin production, which increase pleasure (Longevity, 2009)
• Surprisingly dark chocolate can prevent diabetes (Women’s Health, 2012)
• It can reduce stress (Women’s Health, 2012)
• And help protect against sun damage (Women’s Health, 2012)
• On top of all this it tastes goooooood!

Like I said, moderation is key and be sure that your grabbing a quality bar of dark chocolate, and you can receive some of these benefits and more.

So brownies… My idea of the perfect brownie is crispy crust, gooey inside, chocolate chips, not frosting, no nuts, and not too cakey or fudgey. This is it. This covers all bases for my ideal brownie. This recipe has a short ingredients list so be sure to use quality chocolate.

Add 1 1/2 cup sugar to a mixing bowl,

Pour in 3/4 cup flour,

Then add 3/4 cup cocoa powder (I used Ghirardelli dark chocolate cocoa powder).

Crack three eggs into the bowl…

Add 3/4 cup melted butter (I have no idea why the butter looks neon in this picture)

And 1/2 teaspoon salt (I skipped this because I used salted butter). Then mix it together; don’t mix too thoroughly just enough to combine the wet and dry ingredients.

Mix in chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips).

Pour the batter into a greased baking dish. That is the best looking chocolate batter I have ever seen. I’m totally drooling.

Bake at 325 for 30 minutes (sorry it’s a bit blurry, I was shaking with happiness). Test with a toothpick for doneness (remember there are chocolate chips in there so your first poke might not come out clean.

Let cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes (or as long as you can wait… I made it 2 minutes). Cut into cubes and serve with a nice cold glass of milk.

I had almond milk which was quite delicious…

Brownies: seriously the best things on the planet. These are the perfect balance between fudgey and cakey, with the signature brownie crispy crust.

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Parmesan Chicken

I have been making this recipe for parmesan chicken longer than any other. In fact it was the first dinner I ever cooked on my own. I was in a Food Fun class in middle school and one of our assignments was to cook dinner for our family. We had to present pictures and the recipe in a presentation to the class. (I wish I still had the pictures from then; they’re probably in a box at my parents house somewhere). It is really simple and easy to modify for variety.

I like to make an assembly line of my ingredients: 

• Chicken (free-range, hormone free, on sale yay!), 
• Two eggs, slightly beaten (I usually used a stick of butter, melted but I didn’t have any…), 
• Some breading mixture (The original recipe 1/4 cup parmesan and 1/2 cup italian seasoned bread crumbs. I used 1/4 cup parmesan, 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs and some paprika, black pepper, salt, italian seasoning, oregano, garlic powder and onion powder… I didn’t really measure just added what I thought looked good… it was for science), and
• A greased baking dish,
• All lined up to next to the oven, pre-heated to 450.

I took a total of zero pictures during the following steps; if you try this recipe you will see why. My hands were quite literally caked in bread-y goodness and it would have just been a big old mess. So you will just have to use your imagination skills.

Basically you take your chicken and coat it in the eggs. Then roll it around in the bread crumb mixture and place it in the pan. Repeat for all your chickens.

Usually if there is leftover butter I will pour it over the chicken but since I used eggs I didn’t do this. Butter really works much better from my experience. I also sprinkle leftover breadcrumbs over the chicken. Bake for 40 minutes.

Serve with salad, bread and your favorite beer. Yummy!

Variations:

1. After baking 20 minutes remove from oven and pour marinara sauce over chicken and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve over spaghetti with more marinara sauce.
2. Like I’ve said, use butter instead of eggs.

I’ve taken the leftover chicken for lunch in a quesadilla…

chees and chicken quesadilla, carrot sticks with ranch and some seaweed 😉

And to add to this salad…

Hard-boiled egg, pile o’ veggies and some chicken goodness.

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How do you use your leftovers? 

Slow-cooker Apple Butter

In my plum cake post I talked about the plums my grandmother gave me. Well, the same day she gave me a dozen apples. I knew I needed to make something with the apples to use them up before they went bad. Enter: Apple Butter

I started by gathering my supplies: washed apples, bowl for peels, peeler. And found a comfortable place with a nice view: my porch at my outdoor table.

It took about an hour to peel all the apples… (Julia Child never had this kind of problem peeling apples… then again Julia Child probably had an apple peeler)

I turned it into a bit of a game; here’s my longest peel (the whole apple without breaking) I am an apple peeling champ!

Then I cored and cubed the apples and added them to the crock-pot and gathered the remaining ingredients.

Next, I added 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon allspice (next time I will probably use less sugar because it turned out very sweet since the apples add their own sweetness).

Then I left it for 10 hours and checked it.

It was still pretty liquid-y so I gave it a couple (2) more hours until it was mostly all evaporated. I put it all in the blender to blend it smooth.

And poured it into jars… I froze the little one and left the big one in the fridge.

It tastes wonderful by the spoonful but a few suggestions: added to plain yogurt and mixed with granola, mixed with boiling water for apple cider or spread on toast.

You can make most fruit butters this way. I’d like to try pumpkin butter this fall.

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How have you used apple butter? What other fruit butters have you tried?

Farmers’ Market Vegetable Stew

It’s the time of the year when vegetables are plentiful and sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with them all. When I visited my mom two weeks ago we made this soup with many of the vegetables from her garden. 

Chop up 1/2 cup onions, 1 cup carrots, 1 pound potatoes, 1 bell peppers of your preferred color, and 2 zucchinis. Mince 3 cloves of garlic.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot. Add the onions, carrots and garlic. Cook about 5 minutes until softened.

Add the potatoes, zucchini and a 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes (drained).

Stir together 2 tespoons dijon mustard, 1 teaspoons minced ginger, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning. Add 4 tablespoons vegetable broth then add to the pot. Pour in 1 3/4 cup vegetable broth.

Add bell peppers and some fresh basil.

Then add the swiss chard.

Then pour in some leftover red wine 😉 we used about half a cup of cabarnet. Allow to boil then turn down heat to low. Cover and let simmer for at least 20 minutes. Add one can of chickpeas.

Serve with bread and wine. Have some plum cake for dessert.

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*Side note: Leftover wine can be frozen in an ice cube tray for use in soups and sauces.

How have you used your fresh produce this season?

Pflaumenkuchen Means Plum Cake in German

This is a great example of older generations passing on their knowledge and experience to the younger generation. My grandma makes a delicious plum cake. Recently she picked about three million (this is an exaggeration it was more like 1 million) plums from the plum trees at my childhood church. She gave a sack and the recipe for said cake to me, my mom, and my aunt at my cousin and uncle’s birthday party.

Coincidentally, I needed to bring a dessert to my Rangeland Ecology Club meeting that week and I was stoked to get a chance to bring this dish.

I got out my food processor, added 1/2 cup sugar, 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon lemon peel.

I pulsed all this in the processor, then I added 1/2 cup butter.

I pulsed that too, and added the 1/4 cup milk and an egg.

So I pulsed that into a soft dough, just like the recipe said. I removed this dough and pressed it into a buttered baking dish.

Then I washed all the plums…

Cut them in half, took out the pit and pressed the cut side into the dough, cut side down. I fit as many in as possible, as the recipe tells me too.

All of that was perfect… but that’s the end to that. Here’s where everything went wrong…

The recipe my grandma gave me says 

“Top with:
1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon”

Do you see why I was confused? Does this mean 1 cup sugar? Did she write that twice by accident? I decided that the second 1/2 cup sugar was mistakenly added twice. (I was wrong, as you will see).

So I went along, mixed together the 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 sup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. 

And I sprinkled it over the plums in the baking pan. I remember thinking to myself, this looks very dry. I had experience once with a cobbler in which the topping didn’t mix well enough with the butter so I had a floury substance left on the top. Gross! But I figured the plums were juicy so they must contribute the liquid that moistens the topping. Again how wrong I was.

Hahaha! I can only laugh at myself at this point. I stuck the whole thing in the oven, (which was pre-heated to 375), and set the timer for 45 minutes (anxiously waiting for the brown, bubbly and juicy dessert the recipe promised. 

It was not brown, it was still white. Bubbly and juicy were covered. I thought at this point something is wrong. So I sprinkled some water over the still dry flour parts (I have no idea what drove me to do this). I ended up with a gel type top over a pastry base. 

I took it to the Range Club meeting (I cannot believe I served this to the general public) and though it looked gross (not as gross as this picture shows, but still gross), Range Club people are a nice group and they ate it. The whole thing was gone by the end of the meeting. I managed to get a small piece and it actually had a quite good flavor. So now that I’ve talked it up a bit I will show you a picture of it. Please don’t laugh…

Oh gosh, it looks worse every time I look at it. If I didn’t know what this was I probably would not have eaten it. Like I said, Range Club people are a nice group.

So now I will tell you what I did wrong, (some of you probably already know).

I told you my grandma gave the recipe and a bag of plums to my mom as well. I was visiting her this weekend while my dad was out of town. She made the plum cake too. I was watching her make it to try to figure out my mistake. Right before she put it in the oven I said to her, “mine didn’t look like that.”

She turned to me and said, “Oh, did you see what the recipe said? There’s a typo.”

I said, “Ya I saw that, but I just ignored the second sugar.”

She laughed a little, “It’s a standard strudel recipe, one of the sugars was supposed to say butter.”

So it was BUTTER! Of course, I even thought of that while I was thoroughly messing up my plum cake. Here’s what it was supposed to look like.

A thing of beauty! My mother is a kitchen wizard. But there you have it: my grandma and my mom will never stop passing down their wisdom and helping me grow in my baking journey.

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Tell me about you baking mishaps, so I don’t feel like I’m the only one. 🙂

Running 101

I have tried adopting running off and about once every month for the last 6 years. There were times when I had my schedule down pat and I even got to the point where I actually started enjoying it. Every time I have tried running program I stop for some reason. Sometimes I would get too busy, sometimes it was that I became a wimp in the winter, sometimes it was that I became a wimp in the summer, sometimes I was just a wimp, and sometimes I plain forgot that I was trying to start running. Needless to say I am not a runner.

I want to be though. I love running culture and I generally enjoy the activity (except when I first start out after not doing it for a long time and the wheezing begins). So I’m sticking to it this time. And I’m posting it to my blog because this way someone out there knows if I fail. I just don’t think I can take that kind of disappointment from you.

One thing I discovered about my past attempts is that everyone who has tried to teach me about running, (friends, trainers, coaches, blogs, vlogs, etc.) have all been very athletic. Because of this, and my consistent gung-ho attitude about all things in general (Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you), I would always jump in with both feet and no net. I would think to myself, “I’m going to run five miles today,” and then I would feel like a failure when I couldn’t accomplish these impossible goals. 

But the truth is, most of the plans that were presented to me were made for athletic people, by athletic people. I am not an athletic people. I need to start small and take baby steps.

Since this is the real deal, I’m trying something new. I’m going to sneak running in to my daily routine and the change will be so gradual I won’t even know that I’m being so sneaky (shhh, don’t tell Maggie!)

Soooooo, here’s the game plan. I am on week two and going strong. Every week I amp up the running time or tone down the walking time until suddenly I can run twenty minutes straight, no sweat (pun intended?). Or at least that’s the plan.

If you want to follow my running plan too, you can download the pdf here.

(I am still getting used to using blogger: Google Docs displays the preview without some of the detail but they tell me it will be restored in printing. If you have problems with this feel free to shoot me an email: maggiesmingmumbles@gmail.com or leave a comment with your email address and I will send you the pdf directly)

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Crispy-Outside, Soft-Inside Baked Tofu Cubes in Stir-Fry

Here’s a story for you, the other day I went to the grocery store for a block of tofu and some yogurt. I went to the yogurt section (which by the way, I am convinced they move everything around before I arrive just to confuse me) and picked out a tub. A strange sight uncovered itself as I approached the tofu display: a large group of people clustered around curiously eyeing the suspicious white blocks of soy bean curd.

I have never seen so many people looking at tofu. Here in Fort Collins most people pass by without batting an eye. Not today, it was tofu awareness day and I missed the memo. I excused myself through the ten or so people, checked prices, and grabbed a block of firm for $2.99.

As I started to walk away one woman called after me, “Excuse me but, we’ve just been discussing and, how do you cook that?”

Feeling like Martha Stewart must every day of her life, I walked back and told them.

I said, “You can cut it into any shape and size pieces you like, slabs or cubes, whatever. Most people I know fry these in oil in a pan, which works just fine, but I personally have another technique…”

I went on to describe the following procedure, which results in crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, restaurant-like tofu cubes. In this method, the tofu is baked and not fry you can cut back on some (minimal amounts of) fat. I used the tofu I bought in a stir-fry.

Cut the tofu into slabs, cubes of your preferred size. If you want to get real crazy, pull out some cookie cutters. Nothing says fun like star-shaped tofu!

Lay a cloth towel on the counter (NOT terrycloth, unless you enjoy bits of fuzz in your food). Arrange the tofu cubes on the towel in a single layer. Cover with a second cloth (again, I cannot emphasize enough, NOT terrycloth). I used a single cloth folded in half because I only had one clean.

Place a flat surface, like a cutting board, over the towel. Then put something heavy on the cutting board. Leave for 20 minutes. (Or skip all that nonsense and buy a tofu press).

While you wait cut up some veggies (yes I did make a yin-yang out of my peas and carrots). Use any combination of veggies you like. I’d recommend broccoli, carrots, snow peas, soybeans, water chestnuts, onions, bamboo shoots, bell peppers, corn, zucchini or other squash, tomatoes, mushrooms and potatoes. Really any vegetable is great. That’s the beauty of a stir-fry: you can use whatever is in your refrigerator or pantry at the time.

Mix your sauce: I made a simple sauce of water, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar and cornstarch. This is another great thing about stir-fries, you can use whatever sauce you want. There are infinite combinations of sauces and vegetables.

After 20 minutes spray a baking sheet with cooking oil (I love my misto) and line the tofu cubes on the baking sheet. Set to the side.

Start cooking some rice, or noodles according to the package directions. Heat some oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add some minced garlic and red pepper flakes. After about thirty seconds add your veggies and stir.

Turn your oven to broil and place the baking sheet in the oven for 5 minutes. The cubes like to jump around (sometimes off the sheet!)

Continue stirring veggies (Don’t forget to check on your rice or noodles!)

Remove the baking sheet of tofu from the oven and flip the cubes over to cook the other side for 5 minutes.

 

Add the sauce to the veggies; keep stirring. When the tofu is done add the cubes to the stir-fry (if you can stop yourself from eating them all straight off the pan).

Serve with rice. 🙂

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40 Real Food Kitchen Essentials

As I am a poor college student, many of these tools and appliances are still but a dream. However, I have compiled a list of everything I either use currently or know would be useful to me in my quest to eat only real food.

Tools:

Ziploc Divided Lunchbox This is great for taking lunches to work or school. Cheap, comes in a pack of 2, and it doesn’t leak at least not between compartments. I bought mine from King Soopers but I’m sure is available at many stores. $6.78 on Amazon	Ceramic Coffee Mug It’s tempting to stop for coffee in the morning (especially now that there is a drive-thru starbucks on my way to school). I see these all over local coffee shops in all kinds of patterns. Save money AND no waste. $11.90 on Amazon	Thermos Jar I will admit that I actually did buy this thermos jar with the Hello Kitty print. It’s awesome for taking oatmeal on days I get to school early, or when I want soup for lunch. Definitely worth it if you like a variety for lunches. $15.99 on Amazon
Popsicle Molds I love frozen treats but most store-bought are packed with sugar. I like to make smoothies and pour them into the molds for healthy popsicles (what a concept). I bought some very like these at a party store. $6.40 on Amazon	Melamine Mixing Bowls My wonderful Aunt bought me a set of mixing bowls for a birthday present. They are somewhat like these: colorful, nesting and come with lids. I love them because I can use them for storage too (double-duty is a college girls best friend). $33.45 on Amazon	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6628220.17378;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000342669;pid=969415;usg=AFHzDLtxaT4WSxzgiKPfYAYf7BCeFL-u5g;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fupgrade%252Fwebstore%252Fproduct_page.jsp%253FPRODUCT%25253C%25253Eprd_id%253D845524892863265%2526mr%253AtrackingCode%253D40EB4FA3-5A09-E111-8D66-001517B188A2%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F969415%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200 High Quality Pots and Pans Something I really want, but can’t justify the price tag when I have a set that cook just fine. These are very expensive but I bet they cook beautifully. Plan: gradually add a new pan as the old ones wear out. $239.99 at Kohl’s
http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6628220.17379;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000342669;pid=390906;usg=AFHzDLuYVSY-YBZMp0OvOi6q5rn60A0BTw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fupgrade%252Fwebstore%252Fproduct_page.jsp%253FPRODUCT%25253C%25253Eprd_id%253D845524892434840%2526mr%253AtrackingCode%253D14A9A9F8-D87E-DF11-BC8B-0019B9C043EB%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F390906%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200 High Quality Knives Another item on my wish list: knives. Chopping is a big part of cooking from scratch and higher quality knives last a lot longer. Keep them sharp with a sharpener. $179.99 at Kohl’s	Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons I have used five sets of measuring cups and spoons since I’ve been living on my own and it is so annoying when the painted measurement rubs off. Stainless steel sets usually have the measurement stamped into the metal and are more durable than their plastic counterpart. $7.15 on Amazon	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627857.12366;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000028505128;pid=UHW1025_7254832;usg=AFHzDLsAv2LDcw7bdrl7oKAcLgkcJlk-Lg;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wayfair.com%252FUniversal-Housewares-Pre-Seasoned-Skillet-PS1-L785-K%257EUHW1025.html%253FPiID%25255B%25255D%253D7254832;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcommon1.csnimages.com%2Flf%2F49%2Fhash%2F2174%2F225749%2F1%2F1.jpg;width=200;height=200 Cast-Iron Skillet My fabulous grandmother bought one of these for me for a birthday gift. Sometimes a slightly high-maintenance addition to my kitchen, still one I could never live without. Don’t forget to season it! (Also BAM! cuz mine is from Emeril) $32.99 on Wayfair
http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N963.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6527721;dcadv=3632184;sz=200×200;lid=41000000028007181;pid=LEFM2951;usg=AFHzDLvbF-mk0LtDRxcfB4DWQwnMpB31WA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.boncui.com%252Flefm2951.html%253Fmr%253AtrackingCode%253D3A25E097-34DB-E011-AC9E-001B2163195C%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fsite.unbeatablesale.com%2Fimg227%2Flefm2951.gif;width=200;height=200 Misto The newest addition to my kitchen, and I’m so excited about it! Fill with your favorite cooking oil and use in place of cooking spray (cut out all those nasty propellants). I bought this one at a local cooking store for $9.99. There were many options to choose from. $18.86 on Boncui	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627857.12365;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000028505128;pid=CNX1443;usg=AFHzDLuki71NdyzJED3lFj6RjQvQgedZ4A;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wayfair.com%252FCuisinox-4-Wire-Mesh-Strainer-STR10-L831-K%257ECNX1443.html;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcommon1.csnimages.com%2Flf%2F49%2Fhash%2F2148%2F566653%2F1%2F1.jpg;width=200;height=200 Mesh Strainer I bought this when I tried making almond milk last spring. Now I use it in place of a juicer (tried using a real juicer for a while but found it to be too messy and hard to save the pulp for making crackers). Also useful for making chicken or vegetable stock. $17.99 on Wayfair	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627857.12368;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000028505128;pid=CFB1011;usg=AFHzDLuI8nFurkrSHyREjR4hiKqKz7v9UA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wayfair.com%252FChef-Buddy-Ice-Cube-Tray-with-Lid-Set-of-2-82-Y3434-L1326-K%257ECFB1011.html;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcommon1.csnimages.com%2Flf%2F49%2Fhash%2F10600%2F4062943%2F1%2F1.jpg;width=200;height=200 Ice Cube Tray With Lid I use these for obvious things like freezing water (I don’t have a fancy refrigerator that makes ice cubes), but also for freezing small portions of pesto, chicken or vegetable stock, leftover wine, fresh herbs (for use in the winter), applesauce, and marinara sauce. The lids make it less messy. $5.52 on Wayfair
http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627857.12390;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000028505128;pid=EKC1095;usg=AFHzDLvmubLbRLoXnGSSz0whT3qD_Vk-yA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wayfair.com%252FEKCO-Deluxe-Apple-Corer-Slicer-1058545-L1042-K%257EEKC1095.html;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcommon1.csnimages.com%2Flf%2F49%2Fhash%2F1608%2F4545060%2F1%2F1.jpg;width=200;height=200 Apple Slicer/Corer A basic kitchen essential. I usually prefer to just slice apples with a knife since this doesn’t remove all the seeds usually but when I’m in a hurry this is perfect for quick jobs. $9.99 on Wayfair	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6693770.2264;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000373657;pid=779637;usg=AFHzDLsUSouJn_1RJrtiVZl0h0saYUxqVw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.surlatable.com%252Fproduct%252FPRO-176700%252F;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surlatable.com%2Fimages%2Fcustomers%2Fc1079%2FPRO-176700%2Fgenerated%2FPRO-176700_Default_1_430x430.jpg;width=200;height=200 Whisks Another basic kitchen tool, but one I use often. Just the thing for scrambled eggs, pancakes and mixing sauces, Don’t find yourself without one. (Before I bought one of these I just used a fork). $19.95 on Sur la Table	Cutting Boards An obvious addition to any kitchen that wants to protect their counters (I DO want my security deposit back). There is controversy over wooden versus plastic cutting boards, after some research I found that it really doesn’t matter (I have one of each). Just find one that doesn’t warp or stain. $18.32 on Amazon
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Tortilla Press I’ve been told that tortilla making is easy, especially when you own one of these presses. I don’t yet own one but it is another item that you can find on my wish list. $19.99 on Sur la table	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6693770.2263;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000373657;pid=901314;usg=AFHzDLtiXhO_gtv48AdpkxalEDhJilSuvA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.surlatable.com%252Fproduct%252FPRO-901314%252F;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surlatable.com%2Fimages%2Fcustomers%2Fc1079%2FPRO-901314%2Fgenerated%2FPRO-901314_Default_1_430x430.jpg;width=200;height=200 Tortilla Warmer Not just for Mexican restaurants anymore this tortilla warmer is perfect to keep homemade tortillas warm and fresh. (Not yet owned, on my wishlist). $9.95 at Sur la Table	Mortar and Pestle I was so excited when I bought my little mortar and pestle at a spice store. I use it for crushing both dried and fresh herbs. $9.31 on Amazon
Tofu Press I had no idea these were so pricey. If you have to cash they’re exceptionally useful when preparing restaurant worthy tofu (tofu tips to be published soon). Two cutting boards works well for me currently. $41.95 on Amazon	Salad Dressing Bottle This is the best for making salad dressings at home. I don’t have one because we’re using up our vast stores of store-bought salad dressing (for some reason we buy one almost every time we go to the store). $6.74 on Amazon	Tea Ball I just have a regular old mesh tea ball, but the TEA-rex makes me laugh. I love these for loose-leaf teas you can buy at most tea shops (or collect herbs in the wild). $9.98 on Amazon

Appliances:

http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6693770.2259;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000373657;pid=588541;usg=AFHzDLvv9OrP4hwULGW-_510Fp41WxIsDA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.surlatable.com%252Fproduct%252FPRO-588541%252F;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surlatable.com%2Fimages%2Fcustomers%2Fc1079%2FPRO-588541%2Fgenerated%2FPRO-588541_Default_1_430x430.jpg;width=200;height=200 Food Processor This is another recent addition to my kitchen (thanks to my grandma). I’m so excited to finally have one because I’ve been noticing a definite need for one. Salsa, pesto, hummus, and a million other things… here I come! $159.00 at Sur la Table	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6628220.17382;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000342669;pid=22417;usg=AFHzDLsC8yEPN09LmKzoUo46hDVfIjhJng;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fupgrade%252Fwebstore%252Fproduct_page.jsp%253FPRODUCT%25253C%25253Eprd_id%253D845524464288161%2526mr%253AtrackingCode%253D52D1DB0E-D548-E011-A54C-001517B188A2%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F22417%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200 Mini Chopper I’ve had this for quite a while. It’s awesome for shopping ginger, garlic, or small batches of anything I would use the large food processor for. $59.99 at Kohl’s	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6628220.17384;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000342669;pid=1154783;usg=AFHzDLsHgqB1mBFwb95v_E3vUel6SY4ndg;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fupgrade%252Fwebstore%252Fproduct_page.jsp%253FPRODUCT%25253C%25253Eprd_id%253D845524892994659%2526mr%253AtrackingCode%253D326957A8-10E7-E111-9D2A-001517B188A2%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F1154783%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200 Crock-Pot I am still amazed by (and learning about) all the things you can do with a Crock-pot. I love mine for days I know I’ll be home late. What a great feeling to come home and dinner is already prepared. $59.99 at Kohl’s
George Foreman Grill I am a huge fan of grilled cheese so I love this appliance. Mostly I use it to make sandwiches more interesting but we have tried burgers and chicken on it with success. I actually found mine at a garage sale. $32.95 on Amazon	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6693770.2276;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000373657;pid=724443;usg=AFHzDLufEnIv39rY6TzHMiQXRwZTJ-ta2A;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.surlatable.com%252Fproduct%252FPRO-724443%252F;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surlatable.com%2Fimages%2Fcustomers%2Fc1079%2FPRO-724443%2Fgenerated%2FPRO-724443_Default_1_430x430.jpg;width=200;height=200 Ice Cream Maker There are not words to describe how badly I want one of these. After trying home-made ice cream on one of my ranch visits last summer I just don’t enjoy the taste of ice cream from the box (as much) anymore. Plus you can control the amount of sweetener and the flavor you add. One day I will have you my pretty. $59.95 on Sur la Table	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627857.12392;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000028505128;pid=NIC1062;usg=AFHzDLtjGxE8fbjeEH2Bz4mD3LTLPwA-6w;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wayfair.com%252FPanasonic-Appliances-Bread-Maker-with-Yeastpro-SDYD250-L960-K%257ENIC1062.html;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcommon1.csnimages.com%2Flf%2F49%2Fhash%2F2290%2F2646250%2F1%2F1.jpg;width=200;height=200 Bread Maker My boyfriend’s father has a bread-maker and he makes the BEST bread in the world. I would like to give bread-making a try and this model has caught my eye. My friend bought a bread-maker on Craig’s list for $5.00 (that actually works) so that’s probably where I’ll start looking. $141.99 on Wayfair
Waffle Iron Try as I might, I can’t live without waffles. I don’t like Belgium waffles though. It took me a very long time to find a non-Belgium waffle maker, but I love it very much! $40 at JC Penny	Blender Probably my most used appliance (at least before I got the food processor) because it did double-duty. I love smoothies in the morning so for me this is essential. $29.99 at Target	http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6628220.17383;sz=200×200;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000342669;pid=760407;usg=AFHzDLstDsTAldF4CQ-OZdG5g589iTOPzA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fupgrade%252Fwebstore%252Fproduct_page.jsp%253FPRODUCT%25253C%25253Eprd_id%253D845524892716629%2526mr%253AtrackingCode%253DAF9AAD4C-25E8-DF11-AD70-001517B188A2%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F760407%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=200;height=200 Food Dehydrator One more item on my to-buy list, a dehydrator seems extremely useful to me. I plan to use it for backpacking food, homemade fruit leather and homemade jerky and I’m sure I could come up with a few other ideas. $99.99 at Kohl’s

Books and Movies:

The Omnivore’s Dilemna by Michael Pollan	In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan	Food Rules by Michael Pollan
Food, Inc. a Documentary	Quick-Fix Vegetarian By Robin Robertson	Ancient Grains for Modern Meals By Maria Speck
My Father’s Daughter By Gwyneth Paltrow	The Future of Food a Documentary	Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

I’m moving! (in cyber space)

I’ve had a wonderful time here on WordPress. I did not know about all the things that go into blogging. There is so much information out there and I’ve learned a lot in these past six months. This is my first experience with personal blogging, and overall it’s been a good one. But alas, it’s time for me to move on.

Many of you will wonder, “Why leave the green pastures of WordPress in favor of that dusty old Blogger?” I won’t get into every little detail. The main point is that after playing with Blogger (and the new integration with Google+) I believe it is a much better fit for me personal as I push deeper into the blogosphere. Goodbye to you, WordPress. I will always look back on my time with you fondly and appreciate the stepping stone you provide me with.

If you subscribe to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.

Tour de Fat does bad things to good people

This title is a quote thanks to Jessica and her Facebook status. Tour de Fat is a magical bicycle parade, which occurs but once every year. It is an event created by New Belgium Brewing Company in order to celebrate bike culture in cities across the U.S. There is music and other forms of entertainment, food from local restaurants and, of course, beer. It is one of those affairs in which pictures speak much louder than words.

Source: http://overlandmtb.org/monthly-meeting-and-tour-de-fat

The parade started at 10am on September 1, here in Fort Collins, CO.

This is me with a store-brand Otter Pop (and yes that is a small child’s Disney’s Cinderella dress)

We biked and I took pictures (sorry for the blurriness/hair/angles, like I said I was taking pictures and biking at the same time)

We then encountered THE MOB! (Run! Don’t walk! From the mob…)

And this puppy in a backpack…

And this really awesome bike…

And Spongebob Squarepants, Patrick Star and Sheldon Plankton blowing bubbles…

And The Addams Family…

And this sign: “$3-$5 to pee in the trees on Hitler/Stalin“…

Really it was a pretty awesome collection of people.

*Begin Part 2* The cast of characters switches at this point as I changed friends, (except that guy on the end with the pink boa… he is a photo bomber and definitely not my friend).

This is Jenna, she wins best costume of the century…

We went to Ben & Jerry’s…

Then we sat in the shade and people watched…

We met Tinky Winky…

Listened to the port-a-potty karaoke…

And my man thong quota for my whole life was filled (I am deeply sorry for having to expose you to this)…

And that my friends, is what Tour de Fat is all about (well not the directly above ^^^ but the collection of ALL of the above).

And after all this fun guess what I got to do?! If you said, “You went to Old Chicago, ate awesome pizza, and watched CSU beat CU in football,” then you are correct. The prize is I will remove the man thong image from your view. You’re welcome.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Have you ever participated in Tour de Fat?

Tour de Fat does bad things to good people

This title is a quote thanks to Jessica and her Facebook status. Tour de Fat is a magical bicycle parade, which occurs but once every year. It is an event created by New Belgium Brewing Company in order to celebrate bike culture in cities across the U.S. There is music and other forms of entertainment, food from local restaurants and, of course, beer. It is one of those affairs in which pictures speak much louder than words.

The parade started at 10am on September 1, here in Fort Collins, CO.

This is me with a store-brand Otter Pop (and yes that is a small child’s Disney’s Cinderella dress)

We biked and I took pictures (sorry for the blurriness/hair/angles, like I said I was taking pictures and biking at the same time)

We then encountered THE MOB! (Run! Don’t walk! From the mob…)

And this puppy in a backpack…

And this really awesome bike…

And Spongebob Squarepants, Patrick Star and Sheldon Plankton blowing bubbles…

And The Addams Family…

And this sign: “$3-$5 to pee in the trees on Hitler/Stalin“…

Really it was a pretty awesome collection of people.

*Begin Part 2* The cast of characters switches at this point as I changed friends, (except that guy on the end with the pink boa… he is a photo bomber and definitely not my friend).

This is Jenna, she wins best costume of the century…

We went to Ben & Jerry’s…

Then we sat in the shade and people watched…

We met Tinky Winky…

Listened to the port-a-potty karaoke…

And my man thong quota for my whole life was filled (I am deeply sorry for having to expose you to this)…

And that my friends, is what Tour de Fat is all about (well not the directly above ^^^ but the collection of ALL of the above).

And after all this fun guess what I got to do?! If you said, “You went to Old Chicago, ate awesome pizza, and watched CSU beat CU in football,” then you are correct. The prize is I will remove the man thong image from your view. You’re welcome.

http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627857.12101;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000028505128;pid=YZ1190;usg=AFHzDLsM9HV9U0_hsk9h7SEqlp94qIEBaA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wayfair.com%252FSchwinn-Mens-Prelude-Road-Bike-S4030-L1184-K%257EYZ1190.html;pubid=575791;price=%24245.99;title=%22Men%27s+Prelude+Road+Bike%22;merc=Wayfair;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcommon1.csnimages.com%2Flf%2F49%2Fhash%2F779%2F5774030%2F1%2F1.jpg;width=85;height=85http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6695223.1926;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000029314060;pid=57053;usg=AFHzDLsk_MOeOyQ9J0KCh6ITjmm7Ht5y8g;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.campmor.com%252Fgiro-indicator-bike-helmet-1.shtml;pubid=575791;price=%2427.95;title=Giro+Indicator+Bike+He…;merc=Campmor;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.campmor.com%2Fwcsstore%2FCampmor%2Fstatic%2Fimages%2Fbicycling%2F57053.jpg;width=78;height=85http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6628220.16939;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000000342669;pid=1121648;usg=AFHzDLsVE7tggBlNXizD17GEFfaum1g0vA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.kohls.com%252Fupgrade%252Fwebstore%252Fproduct_page.jsp%253FPRODUCT%25253C%25253Eprd_id%253D845524892972123%2526mr%253AtrackingCode%253D324C28A8-59E2-E111-9D2A-001517B188A2%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;price=%2418.20;title=Soffe+Colorado+State+U…;merc=Kohl%27s;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.kohls.com.edgesuite.net%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fkohls%2F1121648%3Fwid%3D500%26hei%3D500%26op_sharpen%3D1;width=85;height=85

Have you ever participated in Tour de Fat?

Heart Friendship Bracelet

When I was an adorable, little, red-headed girl, with fat cheeks, and freckles in numbers rivaling stars in the sky (okay I still look like that 😉 ) I was a Girl Scout. I went to Girl Scout day camp and Girl Scout overnight camp and Girl Scout meetings (and I sold Girl Scout cookies!). While I learned many the great things they teach you in Girl Scouts, one thing I will probably never be able to forget is how to make friendship bracelets. That muscle memory stuff is great isn’t it, especially considering friendship bracelets are now sold in store (what?) for $15 (what?!).

So, since we all know just how much I love making things myself I will go through the mantra again:

1. you get to choose your own preference…
2. you spend less money… and
3. you form a deeper connection with the things you own because you crafted it with your own two hands.

This tutorial walks you through the steps of making a friendship bracelet with a heart pattern. Enjoy!

To start you need to cut your strings. Pick two colors. Hold your arms straight out perpendicular to your body, from fingertip to fingertip is how long your string should be. Cut four strands, two for each color. Fold the string in half take the fold and make a knot close to the end. This loop will be used to clasp the bracelet, so make it small but big enough that a knot can go through.

Tape your strings down to a flat surface (or if your old school  safety pin then to your jeans), so that it is tightly secured. Order your strings the same as in the image above. Whichever color is on the outside will be the color of your hearts. Number the position of the strings from left to right 1-8.

Now, I would like to explain the knot… There is the going left knot and the going right knot.

*Tip: The illustrations below show on top both knots going forward and below that one knot going forward and one going backward. I noticed that two of my heart strings got more use than the other two. When you are knotting one pink around another, you can switch the dominant strings using the bottom illustration knot.

To go right take the string in the number one position, lay it over the second string take it back under the second string and pull it through the loop.

Going left is the same process as going right; only you wrap the eighth string around the seventh string in the opposite direction.

Each time you make a knot you will do this knot twice.

1. Like I said you will have your string laid out in the order shown.




2. Take string 1 and knot it twice around string 2 then string 3 and finally 4. Then, take string 8 and knot it around string 7, string 6 and finally string 5. Finally knot the middle strings together (going left or right, it doesn’t matter)




3. Follow the same steps as above for the next row with the second color.




4. Now take the second string and knot it going left around the first string and the seventh string going right around the eighth.




5. Fill in the space by taking the second string and knotting it (going right) around strings 3 and 4 and the seventh string (going left) around strings 6 and 5.




6. Now again take the second string and knot it going left around the first string and the seventh string going right around the eighth.




7. Fill in the space again by taking the second string and knotting it (going right) around strings 3 and 4 and the seventh string (going left) around strings 6 and 5.




8. Knot string 1 and 2-4 (going right) and string 8 around 7-5 (going left). This is step 1 again completing the heart.




9. Repeat step 2-8 until the bracelet is the length you like (I usually do about 52 rows).

Now that you know the basic you can do many patterns. Try one on the friendship bracelet website.

“Make new Friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold. A circle’s round, it has no end. That’s how long I want to be your friend.”

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Heart Friendship Bracelet

When I was an adorable, little, red-headed girl, with fat cheeks, and freckles in numbers rivaling stars in the sky (okay I still look like that 😉 ) I was a Girl Scout. I went to Girl Scout day camp and Girl Scout overnight camp and Girl Scout meetings (and I sold Girl Scout cookies!). While I learned many the great things they teach you in Girl Scouts, one thing I will probably never be able to forget is how to make friendship bracelets. That muscle memory stuff is great isn’t it, especially considering friendship bracelets are now sold in store (what?) for $15 (what?!).

So, since we all know just how much I love making things myself I will go through the mantra again:

1. you get to choose your own preference…
2. you spend less money… and
3. you form a deeper connection with the things you own because you crafted it with your own two hands.

This tutorial walks you through the steps of making a friendship bracelet with a heart pattern. Enjoy!

To start you need to cut your strings. Pick two colors. Hold your arms straight out perpendicular to your body, from fingertip to fingertip is how long your string should be. Cut four strands, two for each color. Fold the string in half take the fold and make a knot close to the end. This loop will be used to clasp the bracelet, so make it small but big enough that a knot can go through.

Tape your strings down to a flat surface (or if your old school  safety pin then to your jeans), so that it is tightly secured. Order your strings the same as in the image above. Whichever color is on the outside will be the color of your hearts. Number the position of the strings from left to right 1-8.

Now, I would like to explain the knot… There is the going left knot and the going right knot.

*Tip: The illustrations below show on top both knots going forward and below that one knot going forward and one going backward. I noticed that two of my heart strings got more use than the other two. When you are knotting one pink around another, you can switch the dominant strings using the bottom illustration knot.

To go right take the string in the number one position, lay it over the second string take it back under the second string and pull it through the loop.

Going left is the same process as going right; only you wrap the eighth string around the seventh string in the opposite direction.

Each time you make a knot you will do this knot twice.

1. Like I said you will have your string laid out in the order shown.
2. Take string 1 and knot it twice around string 2 then string 3 and finally 4. Then, take string 8 and knot it around string 7, string 6 and finally string 5. Finally knot the middle strings together (going left or right, it doesn’t matter)
3. Follow the same steps as above for the next row with the second color.
4. Now take the second string and knot it going left around the first string and the seventh string going right around the eighth.
5. Fill in the space by taking the second string and knotting it (going right) around strings 3 and 4 and the seventh string (going left) around strings 6 and 5.
6. Now again take the second string and knot it going left around the first string and the seventh string going right around the eighth.
7. Fill in the space again by taking the second string and knotting it (going right) around strings 3 and 4 and the seventh string (going left) around strings 6 and 5.
8. Knot string 1 and 2-4 (going right) and string 8 around 7-5 (going left). This is step 1 again completing the heart.
9. Repeat step 2-8 until the bracelet is the length you like (I usually do about 52 rows).

Now that you know the basic know you can do many patterns. Try one on the friendship bracelet website.

“Make new Friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold. A circle’s round, it has no end. That’s how long I want to be your friend.”

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

President Obama Addresses Colorado Students About 2012 Election

President Obama came to visit Colorado State University on August 28^th. He was here in 2008 and I just barely missed him. He was a senator running for president back then. I was a scared freshman, and the Oval was outside of the comfortable bubble I had created for myself (dorm room, classes, Lory Student Center, and Corbett dining hall).

This time around I was determined to see him. My President Obama adventures began around 10:30 am on August 27^th. That’s when I just happened to walk by a girl handing out tickets on my way to carry out a completely different mission (Print flyers for the first meeting for the CSU Range Club). She was just setting up so I didn’t even have to wait in line to get this shiny blue ticket.

Behind the scenes photos:

Obama’s Helicopter
Via @EllyCollins

Security
Via @SarahJaneKyle

Secret Service
Via @SarahJaneKyle

Behind these curtains you can find metal detectors and a weaving maze on metal barricades to organize the line of people.

The next stages of this adventure to see President Obama’s speech did not quite go according to plan. First off, I should have realized that the people I passed at 10:00am (some people camped out all night) were clever, instead of scoffing at their time-wasting ways.

Secondly, I should have brought my ticket to school with me this morning instead of leaving it in my lunch box (yes, I am such a logical thinker). My poor boyfriend, Reid, was napping (he works nights now), and I woke him up to bring my ticket between classes.

Third, I should have brought sunscreen and a hat and a parasol and a sunshade and a fan and about 8 gallons of water! It was approximately 5,000 degrees and standing in line in direct sunlight in that kind of heat is probably what death feels like (if you died in the desert of heat stroke and dehydration), especially if your not even sure if it will all pay off.

Fourth, I should have left my backpack with Reid when he brought the ticket instead of lugging it with me to the back of the loooooooong line (My estimates say it was at least a mile long).

Map courtesy of Google Maps

• Blue box indicates location of speakers
• Red box indicates security
• Black line indicates direction of line (Where it ends on East dr. is not necessarily the end, this is just where I lost track of it.)
• Yellow star indicates where I got into the line
• Orange star indicates where I left it

*Please Note: Colors have no correlation to party.

After 30 minutes of waiting in line (I moved probably 20 feet in that time, at least I made it to some shade), I was told that IF I made it to the front they would probably send me to a separate line to check my bag before sending me BACK to the back of the line.

I had nowhere to take my backpack AND my phone was dead. The extremely nice woman in front of me in line told me she would save my place in line if I wanted to run home to drop it off. She gave me her phone number and told me to call when I returned in order to find her. She joked that she would be hard to find, about 10 feet away from our current position in the 45 minutes it would take for me to return.

There was a squirrel in this tree. I thought I got it in the picture but it must be a vampire. (squiracula)

So I left my place…

…chugged a bottle of the free H2Obama (witty)…

… snapped this photo of the Elvis selling Obama buttons. I also saw a man selling Baronco shirts (Barack + Broncos = Baronco?)… and rode my bike home.

I was so hot when I got home that I felt defeated and like I never wanted to return to that horrible line. I resigned my self to homework for the night.

My sister, Erica then told me that she had green priority tickets, which gave me a second wind (with priority tickets you don’t have to wait as long in line). I called my friend that was saving my spot in line to tell her that I wouldn’t be returning and thanked her for her kindness. We decided to meet up at Wild Boar Coffee, a coffee shop across the street from campus.

Images inside the Quad:

Via @ColoradoStateU

Via @ColoradoStateU

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

Via @ColoradoStateU

Via @ColoradoStateU

A few highlights from the opening speeches:

Via @ColoradoStateU

John Hickenlooper, Governor for Colorado, states, “Barack Obama has your back. Do we have his back?” He then goes on to say “President Obama has more emotional depth than anyone I have ever known, and we are lucky to have him as our president.”

Via @ColoradoStateU

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, asks, “ Who will be the champion for the middle class? Obama, or the other guy who stands for the top 2%.” He also informs us, “It’s Barack Obama that helped you get into higher education.”

CSU Sophomore Haley Damm-Hamblin introduces the president. Her speech represented her background as a young woman going to university and why this election is important to her.

Via @ColoradoStateU

Finally, Obama takes the stage, and he got me just a jazzed as he always does when I hear him speak. One of his major points throughout the speech was the importance of voting. He encourages us to vote saying, “Your vote will decide where we go from here,” and “You choose the path to get to the future.”

When he says that in the next few weeks his opponent will share his agenda, the crowd boos, to which he says, “Don’t boo. Vote. That’s the best response. Vote, and get some of your friends to vote.” He mentions an online voter registry, GottaVote.com, which he emphasizes the spelling and apologizes to English professors 😉 . He then says, “Young people came out in record numbers four years ago.” and “Understand your power. If you’re going to get cynical, wait till you’re older.” (hahahaha)

A great moment was when Obama listed all the things WE accomplished in the last four years and a guy yells, “You helped!” to which Obama replies, “I helped a little bit” Hahaha Classic.

He puts the power in our hands, “If we win Colorado, we will win this election. If we win Fort Collins, we will win Colorado.” and “America is counting on you and I’m counting on you.”  Pressure’s on! President Obama is counting on ME!

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

Another key point in President Obama’s speech was the power of education. He tells us that Mitt Romeny calls us the lost generation but we are not because Obama believes in us: “I believe in you. I believe in the American people. I’ve seen the passion of this generation.”

He goes on to say that he and First Lady, Michelle paid off their student loans about 8 years ago. He says, “We know what its like.” He emphasizes his commitment to higher education saying that we shouldn’t be making it harder for students to pay off loans than it already is. My question for you: Should we keep college affordable or borrow money from our parents (as Romney suggests)?

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

A third point emphasized in his speech was ObamaCare, Obama explains that “We passed this law because I care.” ObamaCare has provided 7,000,000 young people with healthcare, given woman access to health care such as birth control, mammograms and pap smears, and has made medicine more accessible to the elderly. “Some of us can’t afford the healthcare we need sometimes, no matter how well we plan.”

A particularly funny moment in my opinion was the reference to the “Romney-Doesn’t-Care plan,” the health care system we will be left with should Romney be elected.

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

President Obama also discusses the economy and jobs. Obama says that tax cuts should not be given to those who have already succeeded (if success is measured monetarily) saying, “Tax cuts should be given to the middle-class, small business and students not to those who have already made it.” He wants to “build the economy from the inside out.” “It’s about the middle class and students.” (Hey that’s me!)

Obama tells us that his opponent believes, “Renewable sources of energy are imaginary,” Obama asks, “Do we want to be forever dependent on foreign oil or do we want to pursue renewable, clean energy sources?” and that “Renewable energy is the future.”

Obama explains, “Here’s the bottom line, Colorado. If the other side has their way … it wont create jobs.” and “I want to make sure taxes are not raised a single dime on first $250k of income.”

Via @Coloradoan_TH

A few other great points from Obama include, “Help every American have a chance to better themselves.” “We don’t need to refight the battles of the past, we are moving forward, we don’t go backward!” Obama is not going to leave any Americans out in the cold, that’s what we’re fighting for.

He questions why people who love each other can’t get married. His response, “The history of our country is not about how many people we can exclude.” and “Ignoring inequality doesn’t make it go away.”

Obama on veterans: “We’re going to have to serve them just as well as they’ve served us.”

He includes some inspirational ideas such as: “You gotta get on board. Its time for change!” (which was responded to by the crowd with a resounding, “Yes we can!”) One of his themes was that he hasn’t finished what’s he’s started, “We’ve got more work to do!” (To which the crowd began chanting, “Four more years!”). And he tells us, “We are greater together than we are on our own.”

He exited to a little Bruce Springsteen, “We take care of our own.”

Via @MattySchnitz

(My dumb ole video of the motorcade from Wild Boar Coffee after the speech. Sorry I didn’t follow the limo. I was looking at it but my hands didn’t cooperate.)

“Will this be an America where no matter where no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, no matter who you love, no matter what your last name is, you can pursue happiness?”

As a young person, I feel that Obama understands me. As a student, I believe that Obama appreciate me. As a Natural Resources student specifically, I recognize that Obama values me. As a woman, I know that Obama supports me. I am grateful that I can look back on today as a piece of history that I participated in, and I hope one day this piece of history will be considered the day everything changed.

*UPDATE: Today is a new day and the Rocky Mountain Collegian (CSU’s student newspaper) has some interesting articles and things to say about Obama’s visit, that I would like to address.

This article compares Obama’s 2012 campaign with FDR’s campaign in which he has re-elected for four terms due to the creation of the New Deal. These government programs forced Americans to rely on the government for their basic needs. I disagree with this comparison. While Obama did mention that he wants to finish the work he’s started, the programs he has introduced are not forced on every American, they give chances to every American. The choice to take these opportunities is left up to the individual.

An article by Caleb Hendrich with the title, “Don’t Boo Get Out and Vote,” discusses why Obama is focused on getting more votes. Apparently, historically the greater the turn-out of voters the more likely the Democratic party has been to have a victory in both the executive and legislative branches. An interesting point.

While the editorial rejoices in the 13,000 people showing up to support the democratic process, their view is that the fate of the nation does not ride on one day in history or the results of the election in November. They want to encourage people to monitor the government in order to ensure that what is promised also is put into effect.

At the time of Obama’s speech there was a smallish (comparatively) gathering of Mitt Romney supporters who met at the corner of University and Meridian Avenues. A report in the collegian quotes one of their number in response to the idea of repealing ObamaCare, ” The idea that the government can force you to buy something scares me.” My response to you sir: “Where do you think roads and highways, public schools, wildlife protection, national monuments, public transportation, public libraries, open space protection, wetland protection, etc. etc. come from? Your tax dollars, that’s where. You’ve been forced to “buy” things your whole life. Even if you don’t use these things every day or they will not benefit you directly, you have to pay for them. ObamaCare simply creates an opportunity for some people in the same way all the other public service we know and love do.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Did you catch President Obama’s speech? What do you like, or dislike, about Obama’s campaign? Romney’s? Are you registered to vote? (Register here)

President Obama Addresses Colorado Students About 2012 Election

President Obama came to visit Colorado State University on August 28^th. He was here in 2008 and I just barely missed him. He was a senator running for president back then. I was a scared freshman, and the Oval was outside of the comfortable bubble I had created for myself (dorm room, classes, Lory Student Center, and Corbett dining hall).

This time around I was determined to see him. My President Obama adventures began around 10:30 am on August 27^th. That’s when I just happened to walk by a girl handing out tickets on my way to carry out a completely different mission (Print flyers for the first meeting for the CSU Range Club). She was just setting up so I didn’t even have to wait in line to get this shiny blue ticket.

Behind the scenes photos:

 

Obama’s Helicopter via @EllyCollins

 

Security via @SarahJaneKyle

 

Secret Service via @SarahJaneKyle

Behind these curtains you can find metal detectors and a weaving maze on metal barricades to organize the line of people.

The next stages of this adventure to see President Obama’s speech did not quite go according to plan. First off, I should have realized that the people I passed at 10:00am (some people camped out all night) were clever, instead of scoffing at their time-wasting ways.

Secondly, I should have brought my ticket to school with me this morning instead of leaving it in my lunch box (yes, I am such a logical thinker). My poor boyfriend, Reid, was napping (he works nights now), and I woke him up to bring my ticket between classes.

Third, I should have brought sunscreen and a hat and a parasol and a sunshade and a fan and about 8 gallons of water! It was approximately 5,000 degrees and standing in line in direct sunlight in that kind of heat is probably what death feels like (if you died in the desert of heat stroke and dehydration), especially if your not even sure if it will all pay off.

Fourth, I should have left my backpack with Reid when he brought the ticket instead of lugging it with me to the back of the loooooooong line (My estimates say it was at least a mile long).

 

Map courtesy of Google Maps

• Blue box indicates location of speakers
• Red box indicates security
• Black line indicates direction of line (Where it ends on East dr. is not necessarily the end, this is just where I lost track of it.)
• Yellow star indicates where I got into the line
• Orange star indicates where I left it

*Please Note: Colors have no correlation to party.

After 30 minutes of waiting in line (I moved probably 20 feet in that time, at least I made it to some shade), I was told that IF I made it to the front they would probably send me to a separate line to check my bag before sending me BACK to the back of the line.

I had nowhere to take my backpack AND my phone was dead. The extremely nice woman in front of me in line told me she would save my place in line if I wanted to run home to drop it off. She gave me her phone number and told me to call when I returned in order to find her. She joked that she would be hard to find, about 10 feet away from our current position in the 45 minutes it would take for me to return.

 

There was a squirrel in this tree. I thought I got it in the picture but it must be a vampire. (squiracula)

So I left my place…

…chugged a bottle of the free H2Obama (witty)…

… snapped this photo of the Elvis selling Obama buttons. I also saw a man selling Baronco shirts (Barack + Broncos = Baronco?)… and rode my bike home.

I was so hot when I got home that I felt defeated and like I never wanted to return to that horrible line. I resigned my self to homework for the night.

My sister, Erica then told me that she had green priority tickets, which gave me a second wind (with priority tickets you don’t have to wait as long in line). I called my friend that was saving my spot in line to tell her that I wouldn’t be returning and thanked her for her kindness. We decided to meet up at Wild Boar Coffee, a coffee shop across the street from campus.

Images inside the Quad:

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

 

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

A few highlights from the speeches:

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

John Hickenlooper, Governor for Colorado, states, “Barack Obama has your back. Do we have his back?” He then goes on to say “President Obama has more emotional depth than anyone I have ever known, and we are lucky to have him as our president.”

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, asks, “ Who will be the champion for the middle class? Obama, or the other guy who stands for the top 2%.” He also informs us, “It’s Barack Obama that helped you get into higher education.”

CSU Sophomore Haley Damm-Hamblin introduces the president. Her speech represented her background as a young woman going to university and why this election is important to her.

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

Finally, Obama takes the stage, and he got me just a jazzed as he always does when I hear him speak. One of his major points throughout the speech was the importance of voting. He encourages us to vote saying, “Your vote will decide where we go from here,” and “You choose the path to get to the future.”

When he says that in the next few weeks his opponent will share his agenda, the crowd boos, to which he says, “Don’t boo. Vote. That’s the best response. Vote, and get some of your friends to vote.” He mentions an online voter registry, GottaVote.com, which he emphasizes the spelling and apologizes to English professors 😉 . He then says, “Young people came out in record numbers four years ago.” and “Understand your power. If you’re going to get cynical, wait till you’re older.” (hahahaha)

A great moment was when Obama listed all the things WE accomplished in the last four years and a guy yells, “You helped!” to which Obama replies, “I helped a little bit” Hahaha Classic.

He puts the power in our hands, “If we win Colorado, we will win this election. If we win Fort Collins, we will win Colorado.” and “America is counting on you and I’m counting on you.”  Pressure’s on! President Obama is counting on ME!

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

Another key point in President Obama’s speech was the power of education. He tells us that Mitt Romeny calls us the lost generation but we are not because Obama believes in us: “I believe in you. I believe in the American people. I’ve seen the passion of this generation.”

He goes on to say that he and First Lady, Michelle paid off their student loans about 8 years ago. He says, “We know what its like.” He emphasizes his commitment to higher education saying that we shouldn’t be making it harder for students to pay off loans than it already is. My question for you: Should we keep college affordable or borrow money from our parents (as Romney suggests)?

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

A third point emphasized in his speech was ObamaCare, Obama explains that “We passed this law because I care.” ObamaCare has provided 7,000,000 young people with healthcare, given woman access to health care such as birth control, mammograms and pap smears, and has made medicine more accessible to the elderly. “Some of us can’t afford the healthcare we need sometimes, no matter how well we plan.”

A particularly funny moment in my opinion was the reference to the “Romney-Doesn’t-Care plan,” the health care system we will be left with should Romney be elected.

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

President Obama also discusses the economy and jobs. Obama says that tax cuts should not be given to those who have already succeeded (if success is measured monetarily) saying, “Tax cuts should be given to the middle-class, small business and students not to those who have already made it.” He wants to “build the economy from the inside out.” “It’s about the middle class and students.” (Hey that’s me!)

Obama tells us that his opponent believes, “Renewable sources of energy are imaginary,” Obama asks, “Do we want to be forever dependent on foreign oil or do we want to pursue renewable, clean energy sources?” and that “Renewable energy is the future.”

Obama explains, “Here’s the bottom line, Colorado. If the other side has their way … it wont create jobs.” and “I want to make sure taxes are not raised a single dime on first $250k of income.”

 

Via @Coloradoan_TH

A few other great points from Obama include, “Help every American have a chance to better themselves.” “We don’t need to refight the battles of the past, we are moving forward, we don’t go backward!” Obama is not going to leave any Americans out in the cold, that’s what we’re fighting for.

He questions why people who love each other can’t get married. His response, “The history of our country is not about how many people we can exclude.” and “Ignoring inequality doesn’t make it go away.”

Obama on veterans: “We’re going to have to serve them just as well as they’ve served us.”

He includes some inspirational ideas such as: “You gotta get on board. Its time for change!” (which was responded to by the crowd with a resounding, “Yes we can!”) One of his themes was that he hasn’t finished what’s he’s started, “We’ve got more work to do!” (To which the crowd began chanting, “Four more years!”). And he tells us, “We are greater together than we are on our own.”


He exited to a little Bruce Springsteen, “We take care of our own.”

 

Via @MattySchnitz

(My dumb ole video of the motorcade from Wild Boar Coffee after the speech. Sorry I didn’t follow the limo. I was looking at it but my hands didn’t cooperate.)

“Will this be an America where no matter where no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, no matter who you love, no matter what your last name is, you can pursue happiness?”

As a young person, I feel that Obama understands me. As a student, I believe that Obama appreciate me. As a Natural Resources student specifically, I recognize that Obama values me. As a woman, I know that Obama supports me. I am grateful that I can look back on today as a piece of history that I participated in, and I hope one day this piece of history will be considered the day everything changed.

*UPDATE: Today is a new day and the Rocky Mountain Collegian (CSU’s student newspaper) has some interesting articles and things to say about Obama’s visit, that I would like to address.

This article compares Obama’s 2012 campaign with FDR’s campaign in which he has re-elected for four terms due to the creation of the New Deal. These government programs forced Americans to rely on the government for their basic needs. I disagree with this comparison. While Obama did mention that he wants to finish the work he’s started, the programs he has introduced are not forced on every American, they give chances to every American. The choice to take these opportunities is left up to the individual.

An article by Caleb Hendrich with the title, “Don’t Boo Get Out and Vote,” discusses why Obama is focused on getting more votes. Apparently, historically the greater the turn-out of voters the more likely the Democratic party has been to have a victory in both the executive and legislative branches. An interesting point.

While the editorial rejoices in the 13,000 people showing up to support the democratic process, their view is that the fate of the nation does not ride on one day in history or the results of the election in November. They want to encourage people to monitor the government in order to ensure that what is promised also is put into effect.

At the time of Obama’s speech there was a smallish (comparatively) gathering of Mitt Romney supporters who met at the corner of University and Meridian Avenues. A report in the collegian quotes one of their number in response to the idea of repealing ObamaCare, ” The idea that the government can force you to buy something scares me.” My response to you sir: “Where do you think roads and highways, public schools, wildlife protection, national monuments, public transportation, public libraries, open space protection, wetland protection, etc. etc. come from? Your tax dollars, that’s where. You’ve been forced to “buy” things your whole life. Even if you don’t use these things every day or they will not benefit you directly, you have to pay for them. ObamaCare simply creates an opportunity for some people in the same way all the other public service we know and love do.

http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6695230.6535;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000029272154;pid=326454638;usg=AFHzDLvcoeH_I9NLXcZ_tczgZnl56ZAfWw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cafepress.com%252F%252Bpresident_obama_35quot_button_10_pack%252C326454638%253Fcmp%253Dpfc–f–us–204–326454638%2526sourcecode%253Daffiliate%2526pid%253D6673073%2526utm_cp_signal%253D20;pubid=575791;price=%2440.00;title=President+Obama+3.5%26Qu…;merc=CafePress.com;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.cafepress.com%2Fproduct%2F326454638_480x480_f.jpg;width=85;height=85http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6695230.6534;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000029272154;pid=641970930;usg=AFHzDLtHZy86xKATIgeH8JKZiH4C6dP05Q;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cafepress.com%252F%252Bforward_obama_2012_teddy_bear%252C641970930%253Fcmp%253Dpfc–f–us–026–641970930%2526sourcecode%253Daffiliate%2526pid%253D6673073%2526utm_cp_signal%253D19;pubid=575791;price=%2418.00;title=Forward+Obama+2012+plu…;merc=CafePress.com;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.cafepress.com%2Fproduct%2F641970930_480x480_f.jpg;width=85;height=85http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6695230.6536;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000029272154;pid=320962377;usg=AFHzDLslnpeH5UadlQTllen_-I4qP0w_JQ;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.cafepress.com%252F%252Bkids_dark_tshirt%252C320962377%253Futm_medium%25253Daffiliate%252526utm_source%25253Dyoutube%253D;pubid=575791;price=%2417.00;title=president+Obama+Kids+D…;merc=CafePress.com;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.cpcache.com%2Fproduct%2F320962377_480x480_f.jpg;width=85;height=85

Did you catch President Obama’s speech? What do you like, or dislike, about Obama’s campaign? Romney’s? Are you registered to vote? (Register here)

Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade

As you probably know by now I love summertime and I have a lot of favorite things about summer. It’ll be at least four more posts before I stop saying THIS is my favorite thing about summer so bear with me. I love going to Starbucks in the summer for a grande passion tea lemonade with one pump; it’s a guilty pleasure. But I don’t love the price that could very easily empty my bank account.

SO I asked them what tea they use in their passion tea lemonade and they told me (It’s Tazo the Starbucks tea brand and they actually sell it at the store).

Source: http://www.drugstore.com/tazo-iced-tea-bags-passion-tea/qxp390951

You can get this kind that’s iced tea ready (make a bunch at once and store it in the pitcher in the fridge). Or they sell a box of individual servings (make it one cup at a time). At Target it was $4.95 (same as a box at Starbucks) but in an online search I found it for a little cheaper.

After drinking it a little I realized it was very similar to the Celestial Seasonings tea I bought at the factory for $2.85.

Source: http://www.celestialseasonings.com/products/sweet-zinger-iced-teas/acai-mango

The Celestial Seasonings version is already sweetened using Stevia, which I’m still not completely sold on but my research tells me that the claims are true. I’ll let you make up your own mind about it.

Anyway, to make the Starbucks version of the delicious pink drink is quite simple. Make the tea according to the package, juice some lemons, add a little of your preferred sweetener (if you like it sweetened), chill in the fridge, enjoy!

 

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade

As you probably know by now I love summertime and I have a lot of favorite things about summer. It’ll be at least four more posts before I stop saying THIS is my favorite thing about summer so bear with me. I love going to Starbucks in the summer for a grande passion tea lemonade with one pump; it’s a guilty pleasure. But I don’t love the price that could very easily empty my bank account.

SO I asked them what tea they use in their passion tea lemonade and they told me (It’s Tazo the Starbucks tea brand and they actually sell it at the store).

http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N963.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6527721;dcadv=3632184;sz=200×200;lid=41000000028007181;pid=BNGLA12880;usg=AFHzDLs_swRig8euWw0wlxL4yuCvB39yNg;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.boncui.com%252Fbngla12880.html%253Fmr%253AtrackingCode%253D6AF21E6E-C164-E111-884C-001B21BCB944%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fsite.unbeatablesale.com%2Fimg290%2Fbngla12880.gif;width=200;height=200

You can get this kind that’s iced tea ready (make a bunch at once and store it in the pitcher in the fridge). Or they sell a box of individual servings (make it one cup at a time). At Target it was $4.95 (same as a box at Starbucks) but in an online search I found it for a little cheaper.

After drinking it a little I realized it was very similar to the Celestial Seasonings tea I bought at the factory for $2.85.

http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N963.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6527721;dcadv=3632184;sz=200×200;lid=41000000028007181;pid=BNGLA13232;usg=AFHzDLvdwh3DGHvy3aXf2-zW_7UPSNGykg;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.boncui.com%252Fbngla13232.html%253Fmr%253AtrackingCode%253D46B706B1-0176-E111-A36F-001B21BCC0BC%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fsite.unbeatablesale.com%2Fimg292%2Fbngla13232.gif;width=200;height=111
The Celestial Seasonings version is already sweetened using Stevia, which I’m still not completely sold on but my research tells me that the claims are true. I’ll let you make up your own mind about it.

Anyway, to make the Starbucks version of the delicious pink drink is quite simple. Make the tea according to the package, juice some lemons, add a little of your preferred sweetener (if you like it sweetened), chill in the fridge, enjoy!

http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627857.12102;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000028505128;pid=LEC1320;usg=AFHzDLtqYHWqTZi1yzxfgOm8-5oeW-zmyw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wayfair.com%252FLe-Creuset-2-Quart-Pitcher-in-Cherry-PG1070-1067-L1238-K%257ELEC1320.html;pubid=575791;price=%2429.98;title=%222-Quart+Pitcher+in+Ch…;merc=Wayfair;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcommon1.csnimages.com%2Flf%2F49%2Fhash%2F2343%2F708221%2F1%2F1.jpg;width=85;height=85http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6627857.12483;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000028505128;pid=SAE1069;usg=AFHzDLt1OeSK1_9HyrKIONRxJuhMvP6SZA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wayfair.com%252FStanley-Bottles-Extra-Large-Travel-Cup-10-01435-001-L1069-K%257ESAE1069.html;pubid=575791;price=%2411.89;title=%22Extra+Large+Travel+Cup%22;merc=Wayfair;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fcommon1.csnimages.com%2Flf%2F49%2Fhash%2F4982%2F5539310%2F1%2F1.jpg;width=85;height=85http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N963.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6527721.7;dcadv=3632184;sz=180×150;lid=41000000028007181;pid=BNGLA12880;usg=AFHzDLs_swRig8euWw0wlxL4yuCvB39yNg;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.boncui.com%252Fbngla12880.html%253Fmr%253AtrackingCode%253D6AF21E6E-C164-E111-884C-001B21BCB944%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;price=%2423.30;title=Tazo+Tea+25791-3pack+T…;merc=Boncui.com;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fsite.unbeatablesale.com%2Fimg290%2Fbngla12880.gif;width=85;height=85

Shoot the Moon

Billie Letts give us another novel full of small-town charm, a little mystery, and some romance in her novel Shoot the Moon. Dr. Mark Albright, a veterinarian to the stars of Hollywood, discovers that he was adopted shortly after the death of his father. He heads to DeClare, Oklahoma in hopes of discovering his birth parents, and quickly discovers that the story of his past is a bit of a mystery.

Source: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780446695060.htm

Gaylene Harjo, the woman Mark knows to be his mother, was murdered when Mark, or Nicky Jack Harjo, was a baby. Most people assumed Nicky Jack had been killed as well, but the body was never found. The wrong man was arrested for the murder, and took his own life while in prison. When Mark returns claiming to be the long lost baby, it causes quite a stir around town.

I don’t want to give too much away but the central characters also include Ivy and Teeve Harjo who take Mark under their wing, helping him in his investigation. Oliver Boyd  “O Boy” Daniels is the rather nasty local sheriff. His wife is Carrie and they have a son, Kippy, who is not much older than Mark. O Boy’s half-brother Arthur McFaddon is another not very nice character who runs the local radio with his stepson Kyle. I especially enjoyed the domino boys, a group of four geezers who play domino’s at Teeve’s pool hall. They add humor and character to the novel.

We learn about Gaylene’s life through snippets of her diary, which Letts has woven seamlessly into the fabric of her story. Her childhood friend was Rowena Whitekiller, she worked at Arthur’s radio station with Kyle and she played basketball well enough to get a scholarship for university.

While this novel is another great work of Letts’, I found it somewhat predictable, considering I had the mystery pretty much solved about halfway through the book. Even so, I still took pleasure in the journey and would definitely recommend this story to anyone who likes fast-moving, well-told novels crafted with wit.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

What is your opinion of Shoot the Moon?

Shoot the Moon

Billie Letts give us another novel full of small-town charm, a little mystery, and some romance in her novel Shoot the Moon. Dr. Mark Albright, a veterinarian to the stars of Hollywood, discovers that he was adopted shortly after the death of his father. He heads to DeClare, Oklahoma in hopes of discovering his birth parents, and quickly discovers that the story of his past is a bit of a mystery.

 

Source: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780446695060.htm

Gaylene Harjo, the woman Mark knows to be his mother, was murdered when Mark, or Nicky Jack Harjo, was a baby. Most people assumed Nicky Jack had been killed as well, but the body was never found. The wrong man was arrested for the murder, and took his own life while in prison. When Mark returns claiming to be the long lost baby, it causes quite a stir around town.

I don’t want to give too much away but the central characters also include Ivy and Teeve Harjo who take Mark under their wing, helping him in his investigation. Oliver Boyd  “O Boy” Daniels is the rather nasty local sheriff. His wife is Carrie and they have a son, Kippy, who is not much older than Mark. O Boy’s half-brother Arthur McFaddon is another not very nice character who runs the local radio with his stepson Kyle. I especially enjoyed the domino boys, a group of four geezers who play domino’s at Teeve’s pool hall. They add humor and character to the novel.

We learn about Gaylene’s life through snippets of her diary, which Letts has woven seamlessly into the fabric of her story. Her childhood friend was Rowena Whitekiller, she worked at Arthur’s radio station with Kyle and she played basketball well enough to get a scholarship for university.

While this novel is another great work of Letts’, I found it somewhat predictable, considering I had the mystery pretty much solved about halfway through the book. Even so, I still took pleasure in the journey and would definitely recommend this story to anyone who likes fast-moving, well-told novels crafted with wit.

What is your opinion of Shoot the Moon?

Origami Gift Box

We all know that giftwrap can be expensive. I don’t want to spend as much (or more) on the paper, bag, and bow as I did on what’s inside. In the past I have been known to make the wrapping as much a part of the gift as what’s inside by using a purse, basket or tote bag. I also like to “be green,” so to speak and recycle old newspaper and magazines as wrapping paper. This is a tutorial on making gift boxes from magazine pages.

What you’ll need:

• Scissors
• Paper
• Ruler
• Glue-stick (optional)

1. Find some paper with a pretty design. The paper must be a perfect square, cut off extra length to make it a square. I used a magazine page (doubled up with a second page glued to the back for sturdiness). Pay attention to what is at the center of the square when cutting, this will be the top of the box.
2. Place the pretty side face down. Fold the square on the diagonal in half, both ways.
3. With the pretty side down fold each corner into the center to make a small square.
4. Unfold two opposite corners. Taking the edges that are still folded down, fold again lining the edge up with the tip of the corner. Do this for the opposite side. Then fold down the other two corners and repeat.
5. Unfold all folds. Find the creases of the small square at the very center of your paper. Lightly draw the outline on the not pretty side of your paper to make sure you don’t over cut in the next step.
6. Cut in from the edge of the paper along the creases as shown in image 6 above. Don’t over cut.
7. Fold along all crease on the sides with tabs (triangles) as shown.
8. Fold the final two edges over the tabs and press down to “stick.”
9. True origami doesn’t need glue but since this is a gift I didn’t want the sides to pop up so I glue down the corners. You can also cut out a small square of pretty paper that fits in the box and glue that over the corners. You can see that I did that in the image below.

If you want to make a box with a lid the lid paper needs to be slightly larger than the bottom. My box is about 2 1/4” when completed. The bottom was 6” and the top was 6 1/4”. If you want a bigger box (about 4 1/4″) use 12” for the top and 11 1/2” for the bottom; for a smaller box (about 1 3/4″) use 5” for the top and 4 13/16” for the bottom.

If you forget how to do proportions here is a link to a calculator.

Plug in 2.25 (the size of my completed box) on the top of the fraction to the left and 6 (the size of the bottom paper) on the bottom of the fraction on the left.

Plug in the size you want your box to be on the top of the fraction on the left. The equation will return the size you should cut your bottom piece.

Then plug in 6 and 6.25 on the fraction on the left and whatever number you got back from the previous step. Now the equation will tell you how big to cut the top piece.

Or you could just guess… testing on scratch paper never hurt anyone.

 

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Origami Gift Box

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We all know that giftwrap can be expensive. I don’t want to spend as much (or more) on the paper, bag, and bow as I did on what’s inside. In the past I have been known to make the wrapping as much a part of the gift as what’s inside by using a purse, basket or tote bag. I also like to “be green,” so to speak and recycle old newspaper and magazines as wrapping paper. This is a tutorial on making gift boxes from magazine pages.

What you’ll need:

• Scissors
• Paper
• Ruler
• Glue-stick (optional)

1. Find some paper with a pretty design. The paper must be a perfect square, cut off extra length to make it a square. I used a magazine page (doubled up with a second page glued to the back for sturdiness). Pay attention to what is at the center of the square when cutting, this will be the top of the box.




2. Place the pretty side face down. Fold the square on the diagonal in half, both ways.




3. With the pretty side down fold each corner into the center to make a small square.




4. Unfold two opposite corners. Taking the edges that are still folded down, fold again lining the edge up with the tip of the corner. Do this for the opposite side. Then fold down the other two corners and repeat.




5. Unfold all folds. Find the creases of the small square at the very center of your paper. Lightly draw the outline on the not pretty side of your paper to make sure you don’t over cut in the next step.




6. Cut in from the edge of the paper along the creases as shown in image 6 above. Don’t over cut.




7. Fold along all crease on the sides with tabs (triangles) as shown.




8. Fold the final two edges over the tabs and press down to “stick.”




9. True origami doesn’t need glue but since this is a gift I didn’t want the sides to pop up so I glue down the corners. You can also cut out a small square of pretty paper that fits in the box and glue that over the corners. You can see that I did that in the image below.

If you want to make a box with a lid the lid paper needs to be slightly larger than the bottom. My box is about 2 1/4” when completed. The bottom was 6” and the top was 6 1/4”. If you want a bigger box (about 4 1/4″) use 12” for the top and 11 1/2” for the bottom; for a smaller box (about 1 3/4″) use 5” for the top and 4 13/16” for the bottom.

If you forget how to do proportions here is a link to a calculator.

Plug in 2.25 (the size of my completed box) on the top of the fraction to the left and 6 (the size of the bottom paper) on the bottom of the fraction on the left.

Plug in the size you want your box to be on the top of the fraction on the left. The equation will return the size you should cut your bottom piece.

Then plug in 6 and 6.25 on the fraction on the left and whatever number you got back from the previous step. Now the equation will tell you how big to cut the top piece.

Or you could just guess… testing on scratch paper never hurt anyone.

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Edamame Hummus

Hummus is one of the best things in life, and adding a few soybeans can only help. The first time I had edamame hummus was my freshman year at CSU. There was always some hummus at the salad bar and very rarely they served edamame hummus. Those were good days, but now I make it at home whenever I want.

Gather your ingredients: some edamame hummus recipes use only soybeans and no chickpeas, but I love chickpeas so I use both, tahini is optional but tastes yummy (I didn’t have any), ¼ cup water, lemon zest and juice, smashed garlic, salt, cumin, coriander and olive oil.

Boil the edamame (fun fact: edamame is actually the Japanese word for soybeans in the shell, when you buy shelled soybeans they’re actually called, “mukimame”) according to package directions. Drain and add to a blender or food processor.

Add the drained chickpeas to the blender or food processor.

I’ve never figured out if it’s easier to zest first and juice after or vice versa. I juice first. Roll the lemon on the counter to loosen the juices before cutting it in half and juicing it.

Then add the water, lemon zest and juice and olive oil (I used 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon sesame oil to add a little of that sesame flavor since I didn’t have tahini)… Followed by the tahini (if using) garlic, salt, cumin, and coriander.

Pulse the blender or food processor until smooth. Add more water if mixture is too thick; add more soy beans if it’s too runny. Taste test and adjust spices to preference.

Serve with vegetables, pita chips, pretzels, or whatever you fancy. This stuff is blended gold my friends. 🙂 AND now you have another dip to serve at your next St. Patrick’s Day party (besides guacamole I mean). Yay!

Total Time: 15 minutes Difficulty: Easy Yield: 1 ¼ cup Ingredients: 1 ½ cup frozen shelled green soybeans 1 can drained chickpeas ¼ cup tahini (optional) ¼ cup water ½ teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons), juiced 1 clove garlic, smashed ¾ teaspoon kosher salt ¾ teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon ground coriander 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Suggested serving: Sliced cucumbers, celery, olives, and pita Directions: Boil the beans in salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, or microwave, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes. In a food processor, puree the edamame, tahini, water, lemon zest and juice, garlic, salt, cumin, and coriander until smooth. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and mix until absorbed. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in the parsley and drizzle with remaining oil. Serve with the suggested vegetables, or refrigerate, covered, up to 1 week (this time is very finicky, check for signs of spoilage such as ingredient separation, off taste or smell and slimy appearance).

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Edamame Hummus

Hummus is one of the best things in life, and adding a few soybeans can only help. The first time I had edamame hummus was my freshman year at CSU. There was always some hummus at the salad bar and very rarely they served edamame hummus. Those were good days, but now I make it at home whenever I want.

Gather your ingredients: some edamame hummus recipes use only soybeans and no chickpeas, but I love chickpeas so I use both, tahini is optional but tastes yummy (I didn’t have any), ¼ cup water, lemon zest and juice, smashed garlic, salt, cumin, coriander and olive oil.

Boil the edamame (fun fact: edamame is actually the Japanese word for soybeans in the shell, when you buy shelled soybeans they’re actually called, “mukimame”) according to package directions. Drain and add to a blender or food processor.

Add the drained chickpeas to the blender or food processor.

I’ve never figured out if it’s easier to zest first and juice after or vice versa. I juice first. Roll the lemon on the counter to loosen the juices before cutting it in half and juicing it.

Then add the water, lemon zest and juice and olive oil (I used 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon sesame oil to add a little of that sesame flavor since I didn’t have tahini)… Followed by the tahini (if using) garlic, salt, cumin, and coriander.

Pulse the blender or food processor until smooth. Add more water if mixture is too thick; add more soy beans if it’s too runny. Taste test and adjust spices to preference.

Serve with vegetables, pita chips, pretzels, or whatever you fancy. This stuff is blended gold my friends. 🙂 AND now you have another dip to serve at your next St. Patrick’s Day party (besides guacamole I mean). Yay!

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Total Time: 15 minutes Difficulty: Easy Yield: 1 ¼ cup Ingredients: 1 ½ cup frozen shelled green soybeans 1 can drained chickpeas ¼ cup tahini (optional) ¼ cup water ½ teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons), juiced 1 clove garlic, smashed ¾ teaspoon kosher salt ¾ teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon ground coriander 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Suggested serving: Sliced cucumbers, celery, olives, and pita Directions: Boil the beans in salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, or microwave, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes. In a food processor, puree the edamame, tahini, water, lemon zest and juice, garlic, salt, cumin, and coriander until smooth. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and mix until absorbed. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in the parsley and drizzle with remaining oil. Serve with the suggested vegetables, or refrigerate, covered, up to 1 week (this time is very finicky, check for signs of spoilage such as ingredient separation, off taste or smell and slimy appearance).

Night

For the longest time I refused to read Night by Elie Wiesel. I kept telling myself that it was just another heart-breaking story of a young boy who lived through the Holocaust. I didn’t want to face the unsettling and depressing account that has haunted my bookshelf all these years. Eventually I realized that hiding from something doesn’t make it go away, in fact, it usually gets worse. If every person on this planet denies the stories of these people and avoids talking and thinking about that horrible time, what’s to stop it from happening again? So I read it.

 

Source: http://judesenglish10.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-of-night-by-elie-wiesel.html

The story follows Eliezer (a character invented to distance the author from the experience) through his experiences in Auschwitz, Buna, and Gleiwitz. His experiences jump out and possess the reader. We follow his complicated love-hate relationship with a God that has abandoned God’s most devoted followers. We wonder with him why the rest of the world remained silent in the face of such brutality. We see inhumanity toward other humans through the eyes of one who experienced it. We celebrate the beautiful father-son relationship while regretting that this relationship results in a sacrifice.

I don’t really know what else to say about this book except that it was exactly what I expected: gloomy, heartbreaking, horrifying, and shocking. It’s not a good book since the events that take place within these pages are certainly not good, but it is well written and worth reading. It is bleak and blunt; Elie Wiesel does not hold back in the recounting of his tale.

How did you react to Night?

Night

For the longest time I refused to read Night by Elie Wiesel. I kept telling myself that it was just another heart-breaking story of a young boy who lived through the Holocaust. I didn’t want to face the unsettling and depressing account that has haunted my bookshelf all these years. Eventually I realized that hiding from something doesn’t make it go away, in fact, it usually gets worse. If every person on this planet denies the stories of these people and avoids talking and thinking about that horrible time, what’s to stop it from happening again? So I read it.

Source: http://judesenglish10.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-of-night-by-elie-wiesel.html

The story follows Eliezer (a character invented to distance the author from the experience) through his experiences in Auschwitz, Buna, and Gleiwitz. His experiences jump out and possess the reader. We follow his complicated love-hate relationship with a God that has abandoned God’s most devoted followers. We wonder with him why the rest of the world remained silent in the face of such brutality. We see inhumanity toward other humans through the eyes of one who experienced it. We celebrate the beautiful father-son relationship while regretting that this relationship results in a sacrifice.

I don’t really know what else to say about this book except that it was exactly what I expected: gloomy, heartbreaking, horrifying, and shocking. It’s not a good book since the events that take place within these pages are certainly not good, but it is well written and worth reading. It is bleak and blunt; Elie Wiesel does not hold back in the recounting of his tale.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

How did you react to Night?

Fruit by the (almost) Foot

As a kid I was a huge fan of fruit gummies like Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit Gushers (though I very rarely received them at home). Now, that I’m an adult (sorta) I have had a few cravings for them.

If you take a look at a box of strawberry flavored Fruit By the Foot by Betty Crocker you might see these ingredients:

• Pears from concentrate
• Sugar
• Maltodextrin
• Water
• Corn syrup
• Partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil
• Contain 2% or less of: carrageenan, citric acid, acetylated monoglycerides, acetylated diglycerides, sodium citrate, malic acid, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), potassium citrate, natural flavor, color (yellow 5, red 40, blue 1)

From the name you would assume there’d be a lot of fruit in it but actually you find it’s just sugar and preservatives. It’s number four on a list of 9 Kid Foods to Avoid created by Time.

Here is a recipe for fruit leather from Out of the Box Food. Tastes delicious, not too difficult to make, and you can adjust the amount of sweetener, the flavor, and the size to suit your fancy. I am seriously in love with homemade stuff!

I got mixed berries because… berries. Other fruit combinations can be found at the end of this post. I used agave nectar because it doesn’t add much flavor but honey or maple syrup can be used as well (or none of the above).

Start by cutting the two sheets of parchment paper to fit the cookie sheets. Rub some butter on the paper so the rolls will peel off easily and set them aside. I’m not sure how necessary the greasing step is but I am afraid to test these without it.

Add all ingredients to the blender (not the butter, like I said it’s for greasing).

Then blend the heck outta those fruits!

At this point you could strain the puree to remove the seeds (there are soooo many seeds). I didn’t because I like to keep things simple and don’t like washing dishes… These are life-changing decisions, my friends. Divide the puree evenly between the two cookie sheets and spread thin with a rubber spatula.

This is my third time making these and I elected to use the sun to dry them in order to save energy. I was worried about bugs and stuff but then I decided to not worry about bugs and stuff. If you do worry about bugs, heat the oven to 150 °F (or as low as yours goes) and place the two cookie sheets in the oven as it is heating up. If your oven has a convection setting this would be an excellent occasion to use it. If you’re lucky enough to have one this recipe is perfect for a dehydrator. My oven only goes to 170 °F so the first time I made these I let the oven heat up all the way gave it five minutes and turned it off. After 20 minutes I’d turn it on again. It was very tedious but it worked. The second time I made these I forgot to alternate heating times and the rolls got super crispy around the edges, and pretty much all over, which made me angry.

When the rolls aren’t wet any longer take them out of the oven (or bring them inside). Wait for them to cool, which doesn’t take long, and cut into whatever size and shape you want. I leave the parchment paper on the rolls as I roll them up so it’s on the outside (like a real fruit by the foot). Store in an airtight container. As far as I can tell they last forever if you don’t eat them all at once.

Somewhat of a high maintenance recipe since you really have to be around the whole time they are drying (unless you use the sun and are not worried about bugs or wind, then you can just leave them out all day). One idea is to make these and refrigerate the puree until just after dinner. Turn the oven on until bedtime and turn it off when you go to sleep.

MORE FRUIT COMBINATION IDEAS:
Yellow: 1 fresh mango, 7 oz dried apricots, the juice of one orange
Purple:  20 oz frozen mixed berries and 1 fresh banana
Green: Kiwi, mango and mint leaves
Blue: Blueberries and grape juice
Red: Strawberries and banana

Spices to try: Allspice, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, mace, mint, basil, extracts, citrus juices and peels, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice. Use sparingly, start with 1/8 teaspoon for each 2 cups of pureé.

MAKES: 12, 2” x 14” rolls TIME: Preparation – 10 minutes, Drying – 5 to 7 hours with convection oven; 8 to 10 hours with standard oven; more if drying by sun. Also depends on thickness of puree. INGREDIENTS: 20 oz. frozen fruit ¼ cup agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup (can use less or omit completely) Butter for greasing DIRECTIONS: Cut parchment paper to fit on two cookie sheets with raised edges. Grease parchment paper with butter. Defrost berries and add to blender with sweetener. Blend until smooth. Divide puree between cookie sheets, spread thin with a spatula. Heat oven to 150 °F (my oven only goes down to 170 °F so I watch them carefully so they don’t burn). Another option is to leave rolls out in the sun to dry. Or better yet, use a dehydrator. When fruit is dry remove the cookie sheets from the oven. When cool cut into 2” strips, roll tightly and store in air-tight container.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

 

What flavor combinations have you tried?

Fruit by the (almost) Foot

As a kid I was a huge fan of fruit gummies like Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit Gushers (though I very rarely received them at home). Now, that I’m an adult (sorta) I have had a few cravings for them.

If you take a look at a box of strawberry flavored Fruit By the Foot by Betty Crocker you might see these ingredients:

• Pears from concentrate
• Sugar
• Maltodextrin
• Water
• Corn syrup
• Partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil
• Contain 2% or less of: carrageenan, citric acid, acetylated monoglycerides, acetylated diglycerides, sodium citrate, malic acid, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), potassium citrate, natural flavor, color (yellow 5, red 40, blue 1)

From the name you would assume there’d be a lot of fruit in it but actually you find it’s just sugar and preservatives. It’s number four on a list of 9 Kid Foods to Avoid created by Time.

Here is a recipe for fruit leather from Out of the Box Food. Tastes delicious, not too difficult to make, and you can adjust the amount of sweetener, the flavor, and the size to suit your fancy. I am seriously in love with homemade stuff!

I got mixed berries because… berries. Other fruit combinations can be found at the end of this post. I used agave nectar because it doesn’t add much flavor but honey or maple syrup can be used as well (or none of the above).

Start by cutting the two sheets of parchment paper to fit the cookie sheets. Rub some butter on the paper so the rolls will peel off easily and set them aside. I’m not sure how necessary the greasing step is but I am afraid to test these without it.

Add all ingredients to the blender (not the butter, like I said it’s for greasing).

Then blend the heck outta those fruits!

At this point you could strain the puree to remove the seeds (there are soooo many seeds). I didn’t because I like to keep things simple and don’t like washing dishes… These are life-changing decisions, my friends. Divide the puree evenly between the two cookie sheets and spread thin with a rubber spatula.

This is my third time making these and I elected to use the sun to dry them in order to save energy. I was worried about bugs and stuff but then I decided to not worry about bugs and stuff. If you do worry about bugs, heat the oven to 150 °F (or as low as yours goes) and place the two cookie sheets in the oven as it is heating up. If your oven has a convection setting this would be an excellent occasion to use it. If you’re lucky enough to have one this recipe is perfect for a dehydrator. My oven only goes to 170 °F so the first time I made these I let the oven heat up all the way gave it five minutes and turned it off. After 20 minutes I’d turn it on again. It was very tedious but it worked. The second time I made these I forgot to alternate heating times and the rolls got super crispy around the edges, and pretty much all over, which made me angry.

When the rolls aren’t wet any longer take them out of the oven (or bring them inside). Wait for them to cool, which doesn’t take long, and cut into whatever size and shape you want. I leave the parchment paper on the rolls as I roll them up so it’s on the outside (like a real fruit by the foot). Store in an airtight container. As far as I can tell they last forever if you don’t eat them all at once.

Somewhat of a high maintenance recipe since you really have to be around the whole time they are drying (unless you use the sun and are not worried about bugs or wind, then you can just leave them out all day). One idea is to make these and refrigerate the puree until just after dinner. Turn the oven on until bedtime and turn it off when you go to sleep.

MORE FRUIT COMBINATION IDEAS:
Yellow: 1 fresh mango, 7 oz dried apricots, the juice of one orange
Purple:  20 oz frozen mixed berries and 1 fresh banana
Green: Kiwi, mango and mint leaves
Blue: Blueberries and grape juice
Red: Strawberries and banana

Spices to try: Allspice, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, mace, mint, basil, extracts, citrus juices and peels, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice. Use sparingly, start with 1/8 teaspoon for each 2 cups of pureé.

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MAKES: 12, 2” x 14” rolls TIME: Preparation – 10 minutes, Drying – 5 to 7 hours with convection oven; 8 to 10 hours with standard oven; more if drying by sun. Also depends on thickness of puree. INGREDIENTS: 20 oz. frozen fruit ¼ cup agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup (can use less or omit completely) Butter for greasing DIRECTIONS: Cut parchment paper to fit on two cookie sheets with raised edges. Grease parchment paper with butter. Defrost berries and add to blender with sweetener. Blend until smooth. Divide puree between cookie sheets, spread thin with a spatula. Heat oven to 150 °F (my oven only goes down to 170 °F so I watch them carefully so they don’t burn). Another option is to leave rolls out in the sun to dry. Or better yet, use a dehydrator. When fruit is dry remove the cookie sheets from the oven. When cool cut into 2” strips, roll tightly and store in air-tight container.

What flavor combinations have you tried?

4×4 Workout

This workout (originally created over at Fit Fab Cities) is another designed to be done in whatever amount of time you have available for it. There are FOUR sets with FOUR individual exercise per set (hence the title).

Enjoy!

Beginners should take breaks whenever needed. Intermediates should take short breaks between exercises and longer breaks between sets. Advanced exercisers should limit breaks to only between sets. and again… DRINK WATER!

Printable version, click here.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

4×4 Workout

This workout (originally created over at Fit Fab Cities) is another designed to be done in whatever amount of time you have available for it. There are FOUR sets with FOUR individual exercise per set (hence the title).

Enjoy!

Beginners should take breaks whenever needed. Intermediates should take short breaks between exercises and longer breaks between sets. Advanced exercisers should limit breaks to only between sets. and again… DRINK WATER!

Free printable version: click here.

*Update: My glossary for these, and many more, workout terms is here. The following is a shortened list of only those terms found in this workout:

Bicycle Crunch

Lay flat on your back. Place your hands behind your head, lift your left leg straight up about 2 inches from the ground and bring your right knee up to form a 90-degree angle. As you do this pull your left shoulder away from the mat bringing your left elbow to your right knee. Make sure you don’t pull your head forward with your arms but rather keep your gaze upward and use your hand for neck support only. Now switch, pull your right elbow to your 90-degree-bent left knee and straighten your right leg to hover above the floor.

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Butt Kickers

Start in a standing position. Start jogging in place kicking your foot as close to your butt as you can with each step.

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Front Kicks

Start in a standing position. Lift your right leg straight out in front of your body until it is as close to parallel with the ground as you can lift it. Alternate legs.

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Jumping Jacks

Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

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Lunge

Take a big step forward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Mountain Climbers

Begin in a pushup position on the hands and toes. Bring the right knee in towards the chest, resting the foot on the floor. Jump up and switch feet in the air, bringing the left foot in and the right foot back. Switch back, that’s one rep.

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Plank

Set-up the top of a push-up position with your hands directly below your shoulder. A variation of this is to rest on your forearms with elbows directly beneath shoulders. Hold your body completely straight by engaging your abs. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: don’t drop your hips or raise your butt.

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Pushup

Lay on your belly with hand flat on the floor on either side, forearms perpendicular to the floor. Stiffen body and literally push yourself away from the ground, hinging at the toes. When arms are straight hold and with control release your body, hover above the ground and repeat.

Quad Lift

Sit with leg straight out in front of you, back straight. Place your hand on either side of your hips. Keeping your leg straight lift your right leg, lower it back to the floor, then lift your left leg, lower it. That’s one rep.

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Reverse Crunches

Lay flat on your back, with your arms at your side. Use your arms to support your body, curve your back as you lift your legs, butt and lower back into the air. Pull your legs close to your chest, then using your ab muscles lift them straight into the air again.

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Shoulder Press

Hold a weight in each hand above your shoulders, next to your ears. With palms facing in life the weights straight up until your arms are straight directly over your shoulders. release to starting position.

Ski Jumps

Starting in a standing position with knees slightly bent and chest forward, quickly jump from side to side over an imaginary line. Land each time with feet hip-width distance apart. When you land where you began (2 jumps) that’s one rep.

Squat Press

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Immediately rise out of squat, returning to standing with arms by side.

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Tricep Dip

Find an elevated surface such as a step, a coffee table over a chair. Place your palms on the surface directly behind your body. Hold yourself up and gently lower yourself down using your arms. When your arms make a 90-degree angle behind you lift yourself back up to the starting position.

V-Lift

Hold a weight in each hand, arms at your side with palms facing in. Lift with straight arms and open them into a v-shape until arms are parallel with the floor.  Hold then carefully release to starting position.

V-Sit

Start by sitting with your legs extended in front of you, toes pointed, hands resting by your hips. Slowly hinge your body backward by lifting your legs off the ground, keeping them straight and toes pointed. Lift your arms so they are parallel to the ground.  You should be balanced on your butt, with your body forming a “V” from your toes to your head.

About a Boy

In honor of National Book Lovers Day yesterday it’s only fitting that this post be a book review. I believe About a Boy by Nick Hornby is just the ticket. The story is nothing more than a slice of life with real characters in real situations feeling real feelings and thinking real thoughts. I bought the book at a local bookstore because I had seen the movie and loved the story.

 

Source: http://icedteaandlemoncake.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/about-a-boy-book-vs-movie/

Really, there are two boys in this story: Marcus, a 12-year-old boy, and Will, a 36-year-old boy-at-heart. Will is a superficial bachelor who lives off the royalties he earns from his father’s one-hit-wonder Christmas tune, a song he despises. He treats life as an experiment, always trying new schemes to fill in the void, which he doesn’t understand. Marcus is an odd, blunt, and worldly young boy who both puzzles and startles his depressive mother, Fiona.

Through a random series of events these three characters come together. They each learn from the others some of life’s lessons they had been missing out on. Will learns what it means to be a grown-up and develops from an empty shell into someone with substance. Marcus opens up to some harsh truths of life and learns the importance of staying true to one’s self, no matter how peculiar. Fiona ascends from a very dark place and discovers a new reason to live. All this occurs through their ups and downs of life.

Briefly, I would like to compare the book with the movie, though it was not National Movie Lover’s Day yesterday (it doesn’t exist… I looked). I have to say that it was a true representation. There were some completely invented scenes present in the movie and many plot twists were abandoned (though plot twists were few and far between in the book). However, Will’s character practically screams, “Hugh Grant,” and the general idea was translated appropriately.

While the characters and the writing fall a bit flat, I appreciated the genuine humor Hornby presented and the realness of their struggles. This book is worth reading, especially as a quick summer book and if you enjoy British humor.

How did you like About a Boy (the book or movie)?

About a Boy

In honor of National Book Lovers Day yesterday it’s only fitting that this post be a book review. I believe About a Boy by Nick Hornby is just the ticket. The story is nothing more than a slice of life with real characters in real situations feeling real feelings and thinking real thoughts. I bought the book at a local bookstore because I had seen the movie and loved the story.

Caption – Source: http://icedteaandlemoncake.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/about-a-boy-book-vs-movie/

Really, there are two boys in this story: Marcus, a 12-year-old boy, and Will, a 36-year-old boy-at-heart. Will is a superficial bachelor who lives off the royalties he earns from his father’s one-hit-wonder Christmas tune, a song he despises. He treats life as an experiment, always trying new schemes to fill in the void, which he doesn’t understand. Marcus is an odd, blunt, and worldly young boy who both puzzles and startles his depressive mother, Fiona.

Through a random series of events these three characters come together. They each learn from the others some of life’s lessons they had been missing out on. Will learns what it means to be a grown-up and develops from an empty shell into someone with substance. Marcus opens up to some harsh truths of life and learns the importance of staying true to one’s self, no matter how peculiar. Fiona ascends from a very dark place and discovers a new reason to live. All this occurs through their ups and downs of life.

Briefly, I would like to compare the book with the movie, though it was not National Movie Lover’s Day yesterday (it doesn’t exist… I looked). I have to say that it was a true representation. There were some completely invented scenes present in the movie and many plot twists were abandoned (though plot twists were few and far between in the book). However, Will’s character practically screams, “Hugh Grant,” and the general idea was translated appropriately.

While the characters and the writing fall a bit flat, I appreciated the genuine humor Hornby presented and the realness of their struggles. This book is worth reading, especially as a quick summer book and if you enjoy British humor.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

How did you like About a Boy (the book or movie)?

Zucchini Bread – Homemade Style

One thing I forgot to mention in Summer Lovin’ post last week is all the fresh produce from my mom’s garden. I probably forgot since I don’t live there much in the summer anymore, but my childhood is full of baby carrots covered in dirt, tomatoes that I can only describe as nature’s candy, and zucchini bread (or at least those are the things I loved the most from her garden).

I wanted to make zucchini bread but my mom warned me that many of the recipes contain a lot of oil. After a lot of research and some improvisation I think I’ve concocted perhaps the perfect recipe. You be the judge.

Start by preheating the oven and preparing an 8-inch loaf pan (I got to use my Misto!).

Grate zucchini(s); you can peel them before hand, I personally like the peel in the bread so I don’t. I used the largest grate size on my 4-sided cheese-grater. You can use the smallest side (or an attachment on your food processor)… it really depends on preference.

Mix together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

Doesn’t that just look sooooo appetizing? Whisk together egg, oil, applesauce, yogurt, honey, and vanilla in a larger second bowl. The honey is from the bee hive on some land my Range Club manages just north of Fort Collins… Yay local stuff!

Add flour mixture to the larger bowl and stir until well combined.

Fold in grated zucchini.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until risen, deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean – 50 to 60 minutes.

Cool in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes, then remove from pan and continue cooling on rack.

Ingredients: Cooking spray 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1 egg 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt 1/2 cup honey 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup grated zucchini Instructions: Preheat oven to 325 °F. Spray an 8-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a separate larger bowl, whisk together egg, oil, applesauce, yogurt, honey and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and stir until well combined. Fold in zucchini, then transfer batter to prepared pan and bake until risen, deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean – 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 30 minutes, remove bread from pan and continue cooling on rack.

 

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Zucchini Bread – Homemade Style

One thing I forgot to mention in Summer Lovin’ post last week is all the fresh produce from my mom’s garden. I probably forgot since I don’t live there much in the summer anymore, but my childhood is full of baby carrots covered in dirt, tomatoes that I can only describe as nature’s candy, and zucchini bread (or at least those are the things I loved the most from her garden).

I wanted to make zucchini bread but my mom warned me that many of the recipes contain a lot of oil. After a lot of research and some improvisation I think I’ve concocted perhaps the perfect recipe. You be the judge.

Start by preheating the oven and preparing an 8-inch loaf pan (I got to use my Misto!).

Grate zucchini(s); you can peel them before hand, I personally like the peel in the bread so I don’t. I used the largest grate size on my 4-sided cheese-grater. You can use the smallest side (or an attachment on your food processor)… it really depends on preference.

Mix together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

Doesn’t that just look sooooo appetizing? Whisk together egg, oil, applesauce, yogurt, honey, and vanilla in a larger second bowl. The honey is from the bee hive on some land my Range Club manages just north of Fort Collins… Yay local stuff!

Add flour mixture to the larger bowl and stir until well combined.

Fold in grated zucchini.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until risen, deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean – 50 to 60 minutes.

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Cool in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes, then remove from pan and continue cooling on rack.

Ingredients: Cooking spray 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1 egg 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt 1/2 cup honey 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup grated zucchini Instructions: Preheat oven to 325 °F. Spray an 8-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a separate larger bowl, whisk together egg, oil, applesauce, yogurt, honey and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and stir until well combined. Fold in zucchini, then transfer batter to prepared pan and bake until risen, deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean – 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 30 minutes, remove bread from pan and continue cooling on rack.

Restaurant-Style Salsa at Home

Salsa is a big deal in my world and I am very picky about it. I hate chunks (except in fresh pico de gallo) and I love cilantro… a lot of cilantro… like the whole bunch, and it’s gotta be spicy. I’ve tried many a jar of salsa in my life (all 22 years of it) and I keep coming back to homemade (which is good since I’m all about homemade everything now). It tastes better, you get to choose your preferences, it’s super simple (if you have a food processor or blender), it’s cheaper and you can make as much (or as little) as you want!

I see no downside.

Three tomatoes (Reid used half of one of these tomatoes for breakfast without knowing they were for the salsa, it’ll be interesting to see how I will peel this one), one onion, one jalepeño pepper, one (two small) Fresno chile (from my garden), two cloves of garlic, lime juice (it’s best fresh but I didn’t have one), salt, cumin, cilantro

Peel the tomatoes by placing them in boiling water for a few minutes then and submerging them in ice water. Skins practically fall off. It’s okay to skip this step, there will just be some skins in the salsa but that’s really not noticeable.

Dice half an onion and chop the tomatoes. Add the onion and tomato to the food processor.

Mince the garlic and cut up the peppers; keep the seeds, you’re tough and can handle it. Then add the garlic and peppers to the food processor.

Add ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground cumin and about three tablespoons lime juice.

Now, add ½ to 1 cup cilantro. I seriously love cilantro. If you don’t like cilantro much use less (but I will mock you).

AND pulse, pulse, pulse… a couple more times, and a couple more, about 10 to 15 times oughta do it. I like NO chunks. If you like chunkier salsa… pulse less.

Be sure to taste test and alter seasonings/add more cilantro. Then if you can avoid the temptation of gobbling it all up right then, cover it and put it in the refrigerator for about an hour so the flavors can fuse and stuff.

Doesn’t that just look awful? I’ll take one for the team and eat it all. You owe me one. (Those tortilla chips are La Favorita brand, ingredients: ground yellow corn, water, soybean oil, salt, trace of lime. Not bad.)

Prep Time: 20 minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 12 Ingredients: 3 Medium Tomatoes 2 whole Jalepeño peppers ¼ cup Chopped Onion 2 Clove Garlic ¼ teaspoon Salt ¼ teaspoon Ground Cumin ½ cup Cilantro (more!) ½ whole Lime Juice Instructions: Peel tomatoes. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until salsa is the consistency you like. Test flavor; adjust spices. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Serve with tortilla chips, nachos, tacos, quesadillas, burritos, fajitas, eggs, etc.

I’ve made this salsa from The Pioneer Woman many times. With my new “real food” kick I shied away from using canned tomatoes because they contained calcium chloride. At the store I had no idea what this was so I bought fresh tomatoes and peppers (and had some from my garden). After doing some research (and remembering my chemistry… duh!) I’ve learned that calcium chloride is basically harmless (and is found in most milk products in higher concentrations than a can of tomatoes).

However, I am very pleased with the results using fresh tomatoes so really it’s a moot point.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Restaurant-Style Salsa at Home

Salsa is a big deal in my world and I am very picky about it. I hate chunks (except in fresh pico de gallo) and I love cilantro… a lot of cilantro… like the whole bunch, and it’s gotta be spicy. I’ve tried many a jar of salsa in my life (all 22 years of it) and I keep coming back to homemade (which is good since I’m all about homemade everything now). It tastes better, you get to choose your preferences, it’s super simple (if you have a food processor or blender), it’s cheaper and you can make as much (or as little) as you want!

I see no downside.

Three tomatoes (Reid used half of one of these tomatoes for breakfast without knowing they were for the salsa, it’ll be interesting to see how I will peel this one), one onion, one jalepeño pepper, one (two small) Fresno chile (from my garden), two cloves of garlic, lime juice (it’s best fresh but I didn’t have one), salt, cumin, cilantro

Peel the tomatoes by placing them in boiling water for a few minutes then and submerging them in ice water. Skins practically fall off. It’s okay to skip this step, there will just be some skins in the salsa but that’s really not noticeable.

Dice half an onion and chop the tomatoes. Add the onion and tomato to the food processor.

Mince the garlic and cut up the peppers; keep the seeds, you’re tough and can handle it. Then add the garlic and peppers to the food processor.

Add ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground cumin and about three tablespoons lime juice.

Now, add ½ to 1 cup cilantro. I seriously love cilantro. If you don’t like cilantro much use less (but I will mock you).

AND pulse, pulse, pulse… a couple more times, and a couple more, about 10 to 15 times oughta do it. I like NO chunks. If you like chunkier salsa… pulse less.

Be sure to taste test and alter seasonings/add more cilantro. Then if you can avoid the temptation of gobbling it all up right then, cover it and put it in the refrigerator for about an hour so the flavors can fuse and stuff.

Doesn’t that just look awful? I’ll take one for the team and eat it all. You owe me one. (Those tortilla chips are La Favorita brand, ingredients: ground yellow corn, water, soybean oil, salt, trace of lime. Not bad.)

Prep Time: 20 minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 12 Ingredients: 3 Medium Tomatoes 2 whole Jalepeño peppers ¼ cup Chopped Onion 2 Clove Garlic ¼ teaspoon Salt ¼ teaspoon Ground Cumin ½ cup Cilantro (more!) ½ whole Lime Juice Instructions: Peel tomatoes. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until salsa is the consistency you like. Test flavor; adjust spices. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Serve with tortilla chips, nachos, tacos, quesadillas, burritos, fajitas, eggs, etc.

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I’ve made this salsa from The Pioneer Woman many times. With my new “real food” kick I shied away from using canned tomatoes because they contained calcium chloride. At the store I had no idea what this was so I bought fresh tomatoes and peppers (and had some from my garden). After doing some research (and remembering my chemistry… duh!) I’ve learned that calcium chloride is basically harmless (and is found in most milk products in higher concentrations than a can of tomatoes). The more you know…

However, I am very pleased with the results using fresh tomatoes so really it’s a moot point.

The Hobbit

I think there is rather a lot of hobbit in each of us. I don’t mean in appearance as the race of hobbits are half as tall as men, are round and plump, and have fuzzy, leathery feet, which help them to disappear quietly and quickly when trouble comes along. I really mean the ordinariness of them. Bilbo Baggins, lives very comfortably in his quiet hobbit hole, burrowed into a hill: The Hill, Hobbiton, The Shire. He likes to take at least two breakfasts every day, an early and a late one, and smoke a pipe of tobacco sitting at ease on the doorstep by his own round, green, front door.

 

Source: http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2012/06/13/top-100-childrens-novels-14-the-hobbit-by-j-r-r-tolkien/

Actually, that is exactly what he is doing a the beginning of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo is smoking his pipe when his ordinary day at his ordinary home is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of an old family friend: the wizard Gandalf the Grey. Bilbo is persuaded to accomplany 12 dwarves (Thorin Oakenshiled, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur) on a quest to reclaim stolen treasure from Smaug, the marauding dragon. Bilbo’s role is to be as “burglar,” a role that neither dwarves nor Bilbo himself believe him capable of. Only Gandalf, and his claim that there is more to the little hobbit than meets the eye, reassures the party.

Bilbo, who has lived in happy ignorance of the happenings in the rest of the world, is about to discover the evils and marvels that occupy the Wild. He encounters trolls, obtains a magic blade, which he later calls Sting, rests with the high elves in Rivendell, escapes goblins in the Misty Mountains, outwits Gollum, a vile, hissing creature, and comes across a magic ring.

You see, this ring can make the wearer invisible and Bilbo uses it (not fully understanding the power) to escape Gollum, the goblins and the underground tunnels through the mountains. This is the first time Bilbo doesn’t rely on Gandalf for rescue; though he still views himself as ordinary, Bilbo the Ring Finder has a very special part to play yet in the great events which shape his world.

He rejoins Gandalf and the dwarves. Evil wolves called Wargs pursue them, but Bilbo and his comrades are helped to safety by a group of great eagles. They visit Beorn, a creature who can shift his shape from man to bear, at his home before beginning their journey through the dark forest of Mirkwood.

Gandalf leaves the party to see to some other business involving the Necromancer just before they enter Mirkwood. Bilbo rescues the dwarves from many dangers in the forest. The dwarves call it luck but I believe that as Bilbo’s adventures unfold he become a rather different kind of hobbit. He learns to rely on himself and stops hoping for outside help. Gandalf, always seeming to know more than he reveals, was right: Bilbo was the right hobbit for the job. As his self-confidence and keen judgement increase he plays an increasingly significant part in the great events, which unfold on the journey to the Lonely Mountain, to Smaug, and to his hoard.

This is a tale that seems to grow in the telling. The characters, while seemingly lifted from fairy tales, have real motives and emotions, which are entirely compelling. Bilbo began as a somewhat unlikeable homebody and grows into the most lovable, courageous, and decent character in the story. And while, Bilbo again and again daydreams of being home by his quiet fire, smoking his pipe on the front step, or preparing a grand meal, his return home turns out to be bittersweet.

Who’s excited for the movie this December?

The Hobbit

I think there is rather a lot of hobbit in each of us. I don’t mean in appearance as the race of hobbits are half as tall as men, are round and plump, and have fuzzy, leathery feet, which help them to disappear quietly and quickly when trouble comes along. I really mean the ordinariness of them. Bilbo Baggins, lives very comfortably in his quiet hobbit hole, burrowed into a hill: The Hill, Hobbiton, The Shire. He likes to take at least two breakfasts every day, an early and a late one, and smoke a pipe of tobacco sitting at ease on the doorstep by his own round, green, front door.

Source: http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2012/06/13/top-100-childrens-novels-14-the-hobbit-by-j-r-r-tolkien/

Actually, that is exactly what he is doing a the beginning of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo is smoking his pipe when his ordinary day at his ordinary home is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of an old family friend: the wizard Gandalf the Grey. Bilbo is persuaded to accomplany 12 dwarves (Thorin Oakenshiled, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur) on a quest to reclaim stolen treasure from Smaug, the marauding dragon. Bilbo’s role is to be as “burglar,” a role that neither dwarves nor Bilbo himself believe him capable of. Only Gandalf, and his claim that there is more to the little hobbit than meets the eye, reassures the party.

Bilbo, who has lived in happy ignorance of the happenings in the rest of the world, is about to discover the evils and marvels that occupy the Wild. He encounters trolls, obtains a magic blade, which he later calls Sting, rests with the high elves in Rivendell, escapes goblins in the Misty Mountains, outwits Gollum, a vile, hissing creature, and comes across a magic ring.

You see, this ring can make the wearer invisible and Bilbo uses it (not fully understanding the power) to escape Gollum, the goblins and the underground tunnels through the mountains. This is the first time Bilbo doesn’t rely on Gandalf for rescue; though he still views himself as ordinary, Bilbo the Ring Finder has a very special part to play yet in the great events which shape his world.

He rejoins Gandalf and the dwarves. Evil wolves called Wargs pursue them, but Bilbo and his comrades are helped to safety by a group of great eagles. They visit Beorn, a creature who can shift his shape from man to bear, at his home before beginning their journey through the dark forest of Mirkwood.

Gandalf leaves the party to see to some other business involving the Necromancer just before they enter Mirkwood. Bilbo rescues the dwarves from many dangers in the forest. The dwarves call it luck but I believe that as Bilbo’s adventures unfold he become a rather different kind of hobbit. He learns to rely on himself and stops hoping for outside help. Gandalf, always seeming to know more than he reveals, was right: Bilbo was the right hobbit for the job. As his self-confidence and keen judgement increase he plays an increasingly significant part in the great events, which unfold on the journey to the Lonely Mountain, to Smaug, and to his hoard.

This is a tale that seems to grow in the telling. The characters, while seemingly lifted from fairy tales, have real motives and emotions, which are entirely compelling. Bilbo began as a somewhat unlikeable homebody and grows into the most lovable, courageous, and decent character in the story. And while, Bilbo again and again daydreams of being home by his quiet fire, smoking his pipe on the front step, or preparing a grand meal, his return home turns out to be bittersweet.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Who’s excited for the movie this December?

Eating Real Food

It was June, it was HOT and I needed something with the word ice in it desperately to cool me down. I pulled into the local grocery store, headed for the frozen food section, relished in the cold air, and searched for that special treat. It came down to three things for me: price, flavor and whether or not my boyfriend would want to eat it too (he has a Who-sized sweet-tooth gene). I grabbed a 12-pack of Weight-Watchers dark-chocolate-dipped raspberry ice cream bars. They sounded heavenly, they were the cheapest for the number of bars and I thought Reid would at least not cringe at the thought of eating one or two.

I will not lie; I got to the car and dug in. The chocolate bar was steaming with sublimation in the hot car and I enjoyed the heck out of every bite of it. When I returned home I put them in the freezer and left it at that. When Reid came home he was having a fit about having to watch TV commercials that day at work. We don’t have cable so we have forgotten about commercials (and I’m pretty sure they’ve gotten dumber since the last time they were forced on me, but that’s a story for another day). He described one commercial he had seen to me through gritted teeth. It was a commercial for some kind of metabolism booster that allows you to eat whatever you want regardless of calories or nutrition. You shake this substance on hamburgers or ice cream and it makes you look like the skinny girls in the commercial, dancing around in their bikinis.

Then he saw Weight Watchers ice cream bars in the freezer. “I bet these aren’t even ice cream, they’re probably completely synthetic,” says he. When we looked at the label, he wasn’t ALL wrong.

That’s when we, here at the Miller/Haseman Estate (HA!) decided that while something may be edible it might not be digestible. He learned in microbiology and passed his knowledge on to me that there are many “food” items we ingest every day that our bodies look at and say “dafuq?” then stores in fatty tissue if it ever has need of the foreign substance. Our culture in America tends to guide us toward the quick fix, the fast, and the easy, which leaves the wholesome and nutritious forgotten in the dusty cobwebs of our minds. Our society has become dependent on processed foods. They are an illusion of nutrition that lists claims such as, low-carb, no added sugar, high-protein, high-fiber, vitamin fortified etc. But when you take a look at the label you see words like “Polydextrose,” “Azodicarbonamide,” and “Natamycin.”

Source: http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/p/processed_foods.asp

Now, this has turned into a project that I have taken on: making EVERYTHING from scratch (almost). When we go to the grocery store we pick up items, look at them and I say, “I could make that.” And then… get this… I actually DO make it.

I will admit that it definitely helps that I have an open schedule (especially this summer) in which to lull away the day. It has been nice to have something to fill my time that will benefit my creativity, deductive reasoning skills and my body all in one shot. (Side note: What’s that saying? Kill two birds with one stone. My mom always found this barbaric and changed it to feed two birds with one seed. End side note).

Regardless of your schedule I believe it is possible to cut out most of this junk from our diets.

Why cut out processed foods:

1. Like I said before, processed foods are an illusion of nutrition.
2. Healthier body, mind and soul… and a foundation for continued health in later life.
3. Michael Pollan says it best when he explains food should be the product of nature, not the product of industry.
4. Variety: 90% of processed food is estimated to be a derivative of corn or soy (Food, Inc.)
5. Plain and simple, common sense: I’d like to know (and have the ability to pronounce) what I’m putting in to fuel my body, wouldn’t you?

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

I would love to hear from you. What do you do to cut back on processed foods?

Eating Real Food

It was June, it was HOT and I needed something with the word ice in it desperately to cool me down. I pulled into the local grocery store, headed for the frozen food section, relished in the cold air, and searched for that special treat. It came down to three things for me: price, flavor and whether or not my boyfriend would want to eat it too (he has a Who-sized sweet-tooth gene). I grabbed a 12-pack of Weight-Watchers dark-chocolate-dipped raspberry ice cream bars. They sounded heavenly, they were the cheapest for the number of bars and I thought Reid would at least not cringe at the thought of eating one or two.

I will not lie; I got to the car and dug in. The chocolate bar was steaming with sublimation in the hot car and I enjoyed the heck out of every bite of it. When I returned home I put them in the freezer and left it at that. When Reid came home he was having a fit about having to watch TV commercials that day at work. We don’t have cable so we have forgotten about commercials (and I’m pretty sure they’ve gotten dumber since the last time they were forced on me, but that’s a story for another day). He described one commercial he had seen to me through gritted teeth. It was a commercial for some kind of metabolism booster that allows you to eat whatever you want regardless of calories or nutrition. You shake this substance on hamburgers or ice cream and it makes you look like the skinny girls in the commercial, dancing around in their bikinis.

Then he saw Weight Watchers ice cream bars in the freezer. “I bet these aren’t even ice cream, they’re probably completely synthetic,” says he. When we looked at the label, he wasn’t ALL wrong.

That’s when we, here at the Miller/Haseman Estate (HA!) decided that while something may be edible it might not be digestible. He learned in microbiology and passed his knowledge on to me that there are many “food” items we ingest every day that our bodies look at and say “dafuq?” then stores in fatty tissue if it ever has need of the foreign substance. Our culture in America tends to guide us toward the quick fix, the fast, and the easy, which leaves the wholesome and nutritious forgotten in the dusty cobwebs of our minds. Our society has become dependent on processed foods. They are an illusion of nutrition that lists claims such as, low-carb, no added sugar, high-protein, high-fiber, vitamin fortified etc. But when you take a look at the label you see words like “Polydextrose,” “Azodicarbonamide,” and “Natamycin.”

 

Source: http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/p/processed_foods.asp

Now, this has turned into a project that I have taken on: making EVERYTHING from scratch (almost). When we go to the grocery store we pick up items, look at them and I say, “I could make that.” And then… get this… I actually DO make it.

I will admit that it definitely helps that I have an open schedule (especially this summer) in which to lull away the day. It has been nice to have something to fill my time that will benefit my creativity, deductive reasoning skills and my body all in one shot. (Side note: What’s that saying? Kill two birds with one stone. My mom always found this barbaric and changed it to feed two birds with one seed. End side note).

Regardless of your schedule I believe it is possible to cut out most of this junk from our diets.

Why cut out processed foods:

1. Like I said before, processed foods are an illusion of nutrition.
2. Healthier body, mind and soul… and a foundation for continued health in later life.
3. Michael Pollan says it best when he explains food should be the product of nature, not the product of industry.
4. Variety: 90% of processed food is estimated to be a derivative of corn or soy (Food, Inc.)
5. Plain and simple, common sense: I’d like to know (and have the ability to pronounce) what I’m putting in to fuel my body, wouldn’t you?

I would love to hear from you. What do you do to cut back on processed foods?

Solving the Magic Cube: Helpful Steps and Tips

The Rubik’s cube was invented by Ernő Rubik in 1974, taking inspiration from smoothed pebbles in the Danube River, in order to help explain three-dimensional geometry. I started doing the Rubik’s cube when I was in Germany in 2007. I was on a four or five hour train ride to Berlin from Oldenburg and had time to kill. A friend of mine could do it so she gave me a few hints to start me on my way. My fastest time is 53 seconds (which is a far cry from the world record) but it’s been ages since I had the ability to work it that fast. Recently, I only pull the cube out on occasion to impress people at parties or just to exercise my brain. Now I’m ready to lay some knowledge down for you to pick up.

Stage 1: The Terminology

Middle Pieces

The middle pieces never move.  The cube will always appear the same when solved because the blue side will never touch the green side, the white side will never touch the yellow side and the red side will never touch the orange side (See Figure 1).

 

Figure 1. The middle pieces are indicated with red white and blue. These pieces never move.

Edge Pieces

The Edge pieces are the 12 pieces that form the sides of each square on each side.  They have two colors and you can move these pieces (See Figure 2).

 

Figure 2. The edge piece is indicated by red and blue. There are 12 of these moving pieces.

Corner Pieces

The corner pieces are the 8 pieces that form the corners of the square on each side.  They have three colors and you can move these pieces (See Figure 3).

 

Figure 3. The corner piece is indicated by the red, blue and white. There are eight of these moving pieces.

Up, Down, Right, Left, Front, Back and Inverted Turns

For the sake of leaving confusion out of the equation the Up side will always refer to the white side, and the Down side will be yellow.  Up and Down can also be commands for turning the Up or Down side, respectively.  Right, Left, Front and Back refer to the side the user turns.  There will be no color associated with right, left, front or back because this changes as we progress.  All turns should be assumed to be clockwise unless indicated by an “i,” which represents an inverted turn or a counterclockwise turn. All turns indicated are a quarter of a full turn unless otherwise stated.  A full turn returns the side to its original position; a half turn rotates the side 90 degrees.

Middle Row

The middle row will always refer to the band of non-Up, non-Down side colors: blue, red, green, and orange.  It is the collection of edge and middle pieces in the middle of the Rubik’s cube (See Figure 4).

 

Figure 4. The middle row is this band of edge and middle pieces.

Position

This is where the piece belongs in relationship to the cube.  For example the orange/green/white corner piece belongs in the corner where the orange green and white sides of the cube meet (See Figure 5).  Therefore a piece can be in the correct position.  This also refers to whether or not the colors are correctly aligned based on the colors of the middle pieces, which again don’t move (See Figure 6).  Therefore, the colors can be in the correct position as well.

 

Figure 5. This piece is in the correct position.

 

Figure 6. These colors are in the correct position.

Other Helpful Information

Specific examples will be used throughout this post in order to better explain the concept.  Because the Rubik’s cube is so dynamic, the one you are working on will most likely appear completely different from the one discussed.  The point is to see the pattern presented here, focus on the end result and don’t get bogged down with details.

Stage 2: The Completion

Step 1 – Solving the Down Cross

The first two steps are the most important and the most difficult things you must do to solve the Rubik’s Cube.  Start by solving the Down cross.  As stated before in the Terminology section, the Down side always refers to the yellow side and the middle piece will never move from its current location.

Take your Rubik’s Cube and hold it so the side with the yellow square in the center (the Down side) is facing up.  Locate on the cube all of the other edge pieces with yellow on them (ignore the yellow corner pieces for now).  Find the orange and yellow edge piece and turn the sides until the piece is on the edge of the orange and white sides.  Turn the Up side (the White side) one quarter turn, invert turn the left side and turn the right side.  Now invert-turn the orange side.  If you have followed the instructions, the yellow/orange edge piece should be lined up on the yellow/orange side (See Figure 7).

Figure 7. The yellow/orange edge piece is in the yellow/orange position.

For the rest of the edge pieces, you will have to use these steps, logic and reason to keep the yellow/orange edge piece in its place and solve for the other three edge pieces.  The end product should look something like Figure 8.

Figure 8. The Down cross is complete. The edge pieces are in the correct position.

Step 2 – Filling in the Corners

Now hold your completed Down cross so it faces up.  Locate the yellow corner pieces.  Find the yellow/red/blue piece and line it up on the cube so that it is in the white/blue/red corner position (See Diagram 1).

If the yellow side of the corner piece is on the blue side of the cube, i-turn the Up side, i-turn the right side, turn the Up side, turn the right side (See Diagram 1).

Diagram 1. This shows the sequence necessary to solve for the corners on the Down side with the yellow side of the yellow/red/blue corner piece starting on the blue side of the cube.

If the yellow side of the corner piece is on the red side of the cube, turn the Up side, turn the Left side, i-turn the Up side, i-turn the Left side (See Diagram 2).

Diagram 2. This shows the sequence necessary to solve for the corners on the Down side with the yellow side of the yellow/red/blue corner piece starting on the red side of the cube.

If the yellow side of the corner piece is on the white side of the cube, you must manipulate the cube so that it is in one of the above positions.  Continue following these steps and manipulating the cube until the other three yellow corner pieces are solved and the Down side is complete (See Figure 9).

 

Figure 9. The Down side is complete. Notice the “T” shape on all sides of the cube.

Step 3 – Working Out the Middle Row

The next thing to do is to solve for the four edge pieces in the middle row.  Hold the cube so that the Up side faces up and locate the four-listed edge pieces.  Start by finding the red/blue edge piece.

If the red side of the edge piece is on the Up side of the cube, line up the blue side of the edge piece with the blue side of the cube.  Hold the cube so that the red side is facing you, i-turn Up, i-turn Front, turn Up, turn Front, turn Up, turn Right, i-turn Up, i-turn Right (See Diagram 3).

 

Diagram 3. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the middle row with the red side of the edge piece on the Up side of the cube as a starting point.

If the blue side of the edge piece is on the Up side of the cube, line up the red side of the edge piece with the red side of the cube.  Hold the cube so that the red side is facing you, turn Up, turn Right, i-turn Up, i-turn Right, i-turn Up, i-turn Front, turn Up, turn Front (See Diagram 4)

 

Diagram 4. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the middle row with the blue side of the edge piece on the Up side of the cube as a starting point.

If the blue side of the edge piece is on the red side of the cube and the red side of the edge piece is on the blue side of the cube (in other words the edge piece is in the right position on the middle row but the colors are wrong) then perform either of the above maneuvers to free the piece.  Then line it up according to the above instructions and follow the method again.

Find the rest of the middle row pieces and do the above maneuvers to complete the middle row until your cube looks like Figure 10.

 

Figure 10. The middle row is complete.

Step 4 – Solving the Up Cross

If your cube looks like Figure 11, hold the cube so that the Up side is up and in the same position as it is in Figure 11.  Turn Front, turn Right, turn Up, i-turn right, i-turn Up, i-turn front (See Diagram 5).

Figure 11. This shows one starting position for solving the Up cross.

If your cube looks like Figure 12, hold the cube so that the Up side is up and in the same position as it is in Figure 12.  Turn Front, turn Right, turn Up, i-turn right, i-turn Up, i-turn front (See Diagram 5).

Figure 12. This shows one starting position for solving the Up cross.

 

Diagram 5. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the Up cross starting with any position.

Once your cube has an Up cross you will have to position the edge pieces so that the colors line up with the correct side.  To do this line up the Up side so that only one color is in the correct position.  This will not work if more than one color is in the correct position (if all four edge pieces and colors are already in the correct position skip to step 5).

Hold the cube so that the correctly aligned color is facing you (See Figure 13).  Turn Up, turn Right, turn Up, i-turn Right, turn Up, turn Right, turn Up, turn Up, i-turn Right (See Diagram 6).  Then repeat this sequence until all colors in the Up cross line up with the corresponding side and your cube looks like Figure 14.

 

Figure 13. This shows the correct way to hold the Rubik’s cube before finishing the Up cross.

 

Diagram 6. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the Up cross. Every other turn is a clockwise Up side turn with the last showing two turns. The Right side turns alternate between clockwise and counterclockwise starting with clockwise.

 

Figure 14. This shows the completed Up cross with all colors and pieces in the correct positions.

Step 5 – Positioning the Corners

Look at all the Up side corner pieces.  Decide if any of the corner pieces are in the correct position.  If no pieces are in the correct position hold the cube so the Up side is up; it doesn’t matter which side faces you.  Turn Up, turn Right, i-turn Up, i-turn Left, turn Up, i-turn Right, i-turn Up, turn Left (See Diagram 7).

Diagram 7. This shows the sequence necessary to position the corners properly. The outcome shown in the diagram is not the only outcome possible, there are many outcomes.

Re-evaluate the cube.  Are any of the corner pieces in the correct position?  If none are, repeat the above sequence until at least one corner piece is in the correct position.

When one corner piece is in the correct position hold the cube so that Up side is up and the piece that is in the correct position is in the lower right hand corner of the cube (See Figure 15 ).  Repeat the above sequence.  Check to see if all the corner pieces are in the correct positions.  Do the sequence until they all are.

 

Figure 15. This shows the correct position for a corner piece and the way to hold the cube before positioning the remaining three corner pieces.

Step 6 – The Big Finish

Look at the Up side and the corner pieces.  Are any of the colors of the corner pieces in the correct position?

If none are it does not matter how you hold the cube to do this sequence.  If one of the corner pieces does have it’s colors in the correct position start by holding the cube with the Up side facing up and that piece in the lower right hand corner of the Up side (See Figure 16).

 

Figure 16. This shows the proper way to hold the cube before completing the cube if one corner piece has the colors in the correct position.

There are two ways for two corner pieces to appear on the cube with the colors in the correct position.  The first way is shown in Figure 17 and should be held as Figure 17 appears.

 

Figure 17. This shows the correct way to hold a Rubik’s cube before finishing the cube when two corner pieces have the colors in the proper position in the shown arrangement.

The second is shown in Figure 18 and should be held as Figure 18 appears.

 

Figure 18. This shows the correct way to hold a Rubik’s cube before finishing the cube when the corner pieces have the colors in the proper position in the shown arrangement.

This final step is easy to get lost in, so PAY ATTENTION to the colors.

Start by turning the Up side.  This is the sequence: i-turn Right, i-turn Down, turn Right, turn Down (See Diagram 8).  Repeat this sequence until the white edge piece and the white corner piece line up and they are on the Up side of the cube.

Diagram 8. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the Rubik’s cube. This particular sequence is sometimes repeated a number of times, other times only one time will be necessary.

Then turn the Up side again and repeat the above method until the Up side is completed.  If everything worked out nicely your cube may need a few turns to get the rows lined up, but it should be complete and look like Figure 19.

 

Figure 19. This shows a solved Rubik’s cube. All color sides are completed.

Stage 3:  The Tips and Techniques

Seeing the Big Picture

Solving a Rubik’s Cube is about noticing patterns and learning how to manipulate the changing sides so that the result is what you want.  You will never solve the same Rubik’s cube twice.  It may be the same device but the colors will never be scrambled in the same order.  Finally, keeping track of which step you’re on and knowing how to go back to where you made the mistake is key.  Pay attention to the way the cube changes when you turn a side.

Decreasing Your Time

There are many ways to decrease your time.  The best way is to practice; the more you do the cube the more likely you are to be able to solve it and to solve it fast.  Also when you practice you learn about the dynamics of the cube, how it changes, why certain maneuvers work, etc.  The more you know about the cube the more likely you will be able to skip steps or do more than one step at a time.

Alternative Method

The above method is meant for beginners.  Once you have been playing around with the cube for a while you begin to discover new ways to complete it.  The following way does not go into as much detail as the above method because it is meant for those who are familiar with the movements of the cube.

Start by solving the orange/green/yellow 2x2x2 cube.  Then solve the red/green/orange/yellow 3x2x2 box.  Then add the blue side until you have a 3x3x2 box.  Finish by solving the white side in the same way you would solve in the beginner’s method.

Other fun ideas include solving the cube with flowers on each side like in Figure 20, and mixing up one cube and trying to match it using another cube.

 

Figure 20. This represents one of many other fun ways to solve the Rubik’s cube.

Solving the Magic Cube: Helpful Steps and Tips

The Rubik’s cube was invented by Ernő Rubik in 1974, taking inspiration from smoothed pebbles in the Danube River, in order to help explain three-dimensional geometry. I started doing the Rubik’s cube when I was in Germany in 2007. I was on a four or five hour train ride to Berlin from Oldenburg and had time to kill. A friend of mine could do it so she gave me a few hints to start me on my way. My fastest time is 53 seconds (which is a far cry from the world record) but it’s been ages since I had the ability to work it that fast. Recently, I only pull the cube out on occasion to impress people at parties or just to exercise my brain. Now I’m ready to lay some knowledge down for you to pick up.

Stage 1: The Terminology

Middle Pieces

The middle pieces never move.  The cube will always appear the same when solved because the blue side will never touch the green side, the white side will never touch the yellow side and the red side will never touch the orange side (See Figure 1).

Figure 1. The middle pieces are indicated with red white and blue. These pieces never move.

Edge Pieces

The Edge pieces are the 12 pieces that form the sides of each square on each side.  They have two colors and you can move these pieces (See Figure 2).

Figure 2. The edge piece is indicated by red and blue. There are 12 of these moving pieces.

Corner Pieces

The corner pieces are the 8 pieces that form the corners of the square on each side.  They have three colors and you can move these pieces (See Figure 3).

Figure 3. The corner piece is indicated by the red, blue and white. There are eight of these moving pieces.

Up, Down, Right, Left, Front, Back and Inverted Turns

For the sake of leaving confusion out of the equation the Up side will always refer to the white side, and the Down side will be yellow.  Up and Down can also be commands for turning the Up or Down side, respectively.  Right, Left, Front and Back refer to the side the user turns.  There will be no color associated with right, left, front or back because this changes as we progress.  All turns should be assumed to be clockwise unless indicated by an “i,” which represents an inverted turn or a counterclockwise turn. All turns indicated are a quarter of a full turn unless otherwise stated.  A full turn returns the side to its original position; a half turn rotates the side 90 degrees.

Middle Row

The middle row will always refer to the band of non-Up, non-Down side colors: blue, red, green, and orange.  It is the collection of edge and middle pieces in the middle of the Rubik’s cube (See Figure 4).

Figure 4. The middle row is this band of edge and middle pieces.

Position

This is where the piece belongs in relationship to the cube.  For example the orange/green/white corner piece belongs in the corner where the orange green and white sides of the cube meet (See Figure 5).  Therefore a piece can be in the correct position.  This also refers to whether or not the colors are correctly aligned based on the colors of the middle pieces, which again don’t move (See Figure 6).  Therefore, the colors can be in the correct position as well.

Figure 5. This piece is in the correct position.

Figure 6. These colors are in the correct position.

Other Helpful Information

Specific examples will be used throughout this post in order to better explain the concept.  Because the Rubik’s cube is so dynamic, the one you are working on will most likely appear completely different from the one discussed.  The point is to see the pattern presented here, focus on the end result and don’t get bogged down with details.

Stage 2: The Completion

Step 1 – Solving the Down Cross

The first two steps are the most important and the most difficult things you must do to solve the Rubik’s Cube.  Start by solving the Down cross.  As stated before in the Terminology section, the Down side always refers to the yellow side and the middle piece will never move from its current location.

Take your Rubik’s Cube and hold it so the side with the yellow square in the center (the Down side) is facing up.  Locate on the cube all of the other edge pieces with yellow on them (ignore the yellow corner pieces for now).  Find the orange and yellow edge piece and turn the sides until the piece is on the edge of the orange and white sides.  Turn the Up side (the White side) one quarter turn, invert turn the left side and turn the right side.  Now invert-turn the orange side.  If you have followed the instructions, the yellow/orange edge piece should be lined up on the yellow/orange side (See Figure 7).

Figure 7. The yellow/orange edge piece is in the yellow/orange position.

For the rest of the edge pieces, you will have to use these steps, logic and reason to keep the yellow/orange edge piece in its place and solve for the other three edge pieces.  The end product should look something like Figure 8.

Figure 8. The Down cross is complete. The edge pieces are in the correct position.

Step 2 – Filling in the Corners

Now hold your completed Down cross so it faces up.  Locate the yellow corner pieces.  Find the yellow/red/blue piece and line it up on the cube so that it is in the white/blue/red corner position (See Diagram 1).

If the yellow side of the corner piece is on the blue side of the cube, i-turn the Up side, i-turn the right side, turn the Up side, turn the right side (See Diagram 1).

Diagram 1. This shows the sequence necessary to solve for the corners on the Down side with the yellow side of the yellow/red/blue corner piece starting on the blue side of the cube.

If the yellow side of the corner piece is on the red side of the cube, turn the Up side, turn the Left side, i-turn the Up side, i-turn the Left side (See Diagram 2).

Diagram 2. This shows the sequence necessary to solve for the corners on the Down side with the yellow side of the yellow/red/blue corner piece starting on the red side of the cube.

If the yellow side of the corner piece is on the white side of the cube, you must manipulate the cube so that it is in one of the above positions.  Continue following these steps and manipulating the cube until the other three yellow corner pieces are solved and the Down side is complete (See Figure 9).

Figure 9. The Down side is complete. Notice the “T” shape on all sides of the cube.

Step 3 – Working Out the Middle Row

The next thing to do is to solve for the four edge pieces in the middle row.  Hold the cube so that the Up side faces up and locate the four-listed edge pieces.  Start by finding the red/blue edge piece.

If the red side of the edge piece is on the Up side of the cube, line up the blue side of the edge piece with the blue side of the cube.  Hold the cube so that the red side is facing you, i-turn Up, i-turn Front, turn Up, turn Front, turn Up, turn Right, i-turn Up, i-turn Right (See Diagram 3).

Diagram 3. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the middle row with the red side of the edge piece on the Up side of the cube as a starting point.

If the blue side of the edge piece is on the Up side of the cube, line up the red side of the edge piece with the red side of the cube.  Hold the cube so that the red side is facing you, turn Up, turn Right, i-turn Up, i-turn Right, i-turn Up, i-turn Front, turn Up, turn Front (See Diagram 4)

Diagram 4. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the middle row with the blue side of the edge piece on the Up side of the cube as a starting point.

If the blue side of the edge piece is on the red side of the cube and the red side of the edge piece is on the blue side of the cube (in other words the edge piece is in the right position on the middle row but the colors are wrong) then perform either of the above maneuvers to free the piece.  Then line it up according to the above instructions and follow the method again.

Find the rest of the middle row pieces and do the above maneuvers to complete the middle row until your cube looks like Figure 10.

Figure 10. The middle row is complete.

Step 4 – Solving the Up Cross

If your cube looks like Figure 11, hold the cube so that the Up side is up and in the same position as it is in Figure 11.  Turn Front, turn Right, turn Up, i-turn right, i-turn Up, i-turn front (See Diagram 5).

Figure 11. This shows one starting position for solving the Up cross.

If your cube looks like Figure 12, hold the cube so that the Up side is up and in the same position as it is in Figure 12.  Turn Front, turn Right, turn Up, i-turn right, i-turn Up, i-turn front (See Diagram 5).

Figure 12. This shows one starting position for solving the Up cross.

Diagram 5. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the Up cross starting with any position.

Once your cube has an Up cross you will have to position the edge pieces so that the colors line up with the correct side.  To do this line up the Up side so that only one color is in the correct position.  This will not work if more than one color is in the correct position (if all four edge pieces and colors are already in the correct position skip to step 5).

Hold the cube so that the correctly aligned color is facing you (See Figure 13).  Turn Up, turn Right, turn Up, i-turn Right, turn Up, turn Right, turn Up, turn Up, i-turn Right (See Diagram 6).  Then repeat this sequence until all colors in the Up cross line up with the corresponding side and your cube looks like Figure 14.

Figure 13. This shows the correct way to hold the Rubik’s cube before finishing the Up cross.

Diagram 6. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the Up cross. Every other turn is a clockwise Up side turn with the last showing two turns. The Right side turns alternate between clockwise and counterclockwise starting with clockwise.

Figure 14. This shows the completed Up cross with all colors and pieces in the correct positions.

Step 5 – Positioning the Corners

Look at all the Up side corner pieces.  Decide if any of the corner pieces are in the correct position.  If no pieces are in the correct position hold the cube so the Up side is up; it doesn’t matter which side faces you.  Turn Up, turn Right, i-turn Up, i-turn Left, turn Up, i-turn Right, i-turn Up, turn Left (See Diagram 7).

Diagram 7. This shows the sequence necessary to position the corners properly. The outcome shown in the diagram is not the only outcome possible, there are many outcomes.

Re-evaluate the cube.  Are any of the corner pieces in the correct position?  If none are, repeat the above sequence until at least one corner piece is in the correct position.

When one corner piece is in the correct position hold the cube so that Up side is up and the piece that is in the correct position is in the lower right hand corner of the cube (See Figure 15 ).  Repeat the above sequence.  Check to see if all the corner pieces are in the correct positions.  Do the sequence until they all are.

Figure 15. This shows the correct position for a corner piece and the way to hold the cube before positioning the remaining three corner pieces.

Step 6 – The Big Finish

Look at the Up side and the corner pieces.  Are any of the colors of the corner pieces in the correct position?

If none are it does not matter how you hold the cube to do this sequence.  If one of the corner pieces does have it’s colors in the correct position start by holding the cube with the Up side facing up and that piece in the lower right hand corner of the Up side (See Figure 16).

Figure 16. This shows the proper way to hold the cube before completing the cube if one corner piece has the colors in the correct position.

There are two ways for two corner pieces to appear on the cube with the colors in the correct position.  The first way is shown in Figure 17 and should be held as Figure 17 appears.

Figure 17. This shows the correct way to hold a Rubik’s cube before finishing the cube when two corner pieces have the colors in the proper position in the shown arrangement.

The second is shown in Figure 18 and should be held as Figure 18 appears.

Figure 18. This shows the correct way to hold a Rubik’s cube before finishing the cube when the corner pieces have the colors in the proper position in the shown arrangement.

This final step is easy to get lost in, so PAY ATTENTION to the colors.

Start by turning the Up side.  This is the sequence: i-turn Right, i-turn Down, turn Right, turn Down (See Diagram 8).  Repeat this sequence until the white edge piece and the white corner piece line up and they are on the Up side of the cube.

Diagram 8. This shows the sequence necessary to complete the Rubik’s cube. This particular sequence is sometimes repeated a number of times, other times only one time will be necessary.

Then turn the Up side again and repeat the above method until the Up side is completed.  If everything worked out nicely your cube may need a few turns to get the rows lined up, but it should be complete and look like Figure 19.

Figure 19. This shows a solved Rubik’s cube. All color sides are completed.

Stage 3:  The Tips and Techniques

Seeing the Big Picture

Solving a Rubik’s Cube is about noticing patterns and learning how to manipulate the changing sides so that the result is what you want.  You will never solve the same Rubik’s cube twice.  It may be the same device but the colors will never be scrambled in the same order.  Finally, keeping track of which step you’re on and knowing how to go back to where you made the mistake is key.  Pay attention to the way the cube changes when you turn a side.

Decreasing Your Time

There are many ways to decrease your time.  The best way is to practice; the more you do the cube the more likely you are to be able to solve it and to solve it fast.  Also when you practice you learn about the dynamics of the cube, how it changes, why certain maneuvers work, etc.  The more you know about the cube the more likely you will be able to skip steps or do more than one step at a time.

Alternative Method

The above method is meant for beginners.  Once you have been playing around with the cube for a while you begin to discover new ways to complete it.  The following way does not go into as much detail as the above method because it is meant for those who are familiar with the movements of the cube.

Start by solving the orange/green/yellow 2x2x2 cube.  Then solve the red/green/orange/yellow 3x2x2 box.  Then add the blue side until you have a 3x3x2 box.  Finish by solving the white side in the same way you would solve in the beginner’s method.

Other fun ideas include solving the cube with flowers on each side like in Figure 20, and mixing up one cube and trying to match it using another cube.

Figure 20. This represents one of many other fun ways to solve the Rubik’s cube.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

The Mandrake: Root of All Evil or Apple of Love

I took a course called Plants and Civilization at Colorado State University in the spring of 2011. It was based around the book Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan and is where I think my love of plants became truly solidified. I wrote this piece for my final paper and am very proud of it so I now have it published on the interweb for those who, like me, love plants and how they relate to humans.

Throughout history the mandrake has been given a reputation as both sacred and sinister in many aspects of human culture.  Evidence of both views can be found in language, uses and the rituals surrounding it.  The words people used to describe this plant include the ancient Greek word, “Love apples,” and the Arabic word, “Devil’s testicles;” (Thompson, 1968) other words in other cultures depended on the sex, use and part of the plant a person is referred to (Zarcone, 2005).  Various reasons are given for why this plant became a thing to cherish and a thing to fear; the mandrake was loved because it was considered an aphrodisiac and could increase fertility but it was also distressing due to it’s magic and it’s poison (Bennett, 1991).

The mandrake is a perennial herb and member to a family that includes both foul and beneficial plants: the Solanaceae family (Simoons, 1998).  Some relatives include edible plants such as the potato and the tomato and poisonous plants like deadly nightshade. (Simoons, 1998).  The substances that make up a mandrake are also conflicting.  All mandrake species contain up to 0.4% alkaloids (Rätsch 1992).  The chief active ingredient is scopolamine, a hallucinogen and a poison (Bennett, 1991).  Another major substance in mandrakes is atropine, which is found in highest levels in the roots of flowering mandrake and is known to cause the pupil dilation and got it’s name from Atropos, one of three Greek Fates who chose how a person would die (Hanus et al., 2007).  The heavy, fruity, provocative odor of the fruit of a mandrake, which is mentioned in a love poem in the Christian Bible, comes from over 100 different components including ethyl butyrate, hexanol and hexyl acetate (Hanus et al., 2005).

Source: http://mybyzantine.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/byzantine-herbs-and-drugs-%E2%80%93-the-magical-and-dangerous-mandrake/

There were many rituals surrounding the collection of a mandrake, some due to the evils associated with the plant, others due to the good.  The evil associations begin in Europe where it was believed that mandrakes only grew beneath the gallows from the matter of the hanged person (Simoons, 1998).  Daleschamps went so far as to say that mandrakes only were produced from the sperm of hanged men or men crushed on a wheel but not from women because “female sperm cannot be prolific on its own” (Zarcone, 2005).  In Iran, it was believed that the mandrake was produced from the blood of a god or primeval giant that was killed violently (Zarcone, 2005).  Because of these beliefs, one rule for collection stated that mandrakes could only be collected beneath gallows or at crossroads, especially where suicide was involved (Simoons, 1998).

New rules and formulas for digging up mandrakes began popping up in various areas of the world; the most common ritual involved the use of a dog.  In Roman, Greek, Persian and Turkish there are various forms of words that refer to the mandrake and mean human plant (Simoons, 1998) because it is thought to look like a man due to the thick, fleshy root’s resemblance to the human-form (Beahm, 2005), and the rootlets give the impression of hair for a beard (Zarcone, 2005).  Many cultures believed that the mandrake was a living spirit that would shriek when uprooted killing the digger (Rätsch, 1992).  In a Persian engraving a man is seen wearing a turban to protect his ears and pulling up a mandrake with the assistance of a dog (Zarcone, 2005) because dogs were often employed to pull up the roots.  The owner of the dog would starve the dog for a few days then they would tie a string between the dog and the plant and lure the dog with food (Thompson, 1968).  The dog would pull up the plant and die from the shriek; the digger would be safe to collect the mandrake (Rätsch, 1992).  In South Europe and Southwest Asia, the dog’s that were used to pull up mandrakes were sometimes honored, and the bodies were burned (Simoons, 1998).  If one wanted to avoid the loss of a dog when digging the plant, a pole was used instead.  If you stuck the pole deeply in the ground and bent it before tying a string between its end and the mandrake, the pole would pull the mandrake from the ground as it righted itself (Zarcone, 2005).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mandragora_Tacuinum_Sanitatis.jpg

Some good rituals involved circles, dancing and love poems.  The circles were used both to prevent the mandrake from fleeing and to mark possession over the mandrake (Simoons, 1998).  One rule said that the herbalist must surround the mandrake when trying to collect it or it will run away (Zarcone, 2005).  Theophrastus said that three circles should be drawn around the plant with a sword (Simoons, 1998).  One person should face west and cut the mandrake from the ground while the other dances around it speaking of love (Simoons, 1998).  In Romania, girls would collect mandrake in the nude, they would then prostrate themselves three times toward the east and walk around the plant three times while reciting magic formulas, each of these actions were meant to increase fertility (Simoons, 1998).

Other rituals stated suitable times for collection including: midnight, on Fridays before sunrise, or on Tuesdays in December or March when the sun is shining (Simoons, 1998).  The collection of mandrake in Romania often required the assistance of a sorceress, or “old wise woman” and was conducted in secret at night when there was a full moon (Simoons, 1998).  Another ritual stated that to reveal the roots, or feet and hands of the mandrake, one must use an ivory spade (Zarcone, 2005).

Mandrakes were heavily traded throughout Europe (Simoons, 1998).  The plant was rare and it was perilous to collect, therefore it was often extremely expensive (Rätsch, 1992).  The plants were so important to families that they were often passed down through wills (Simoons, 1998).  Mandrakes were carved to render them more lifelike, increase their value and to fool barren women who were eager to buy them (Gordon, 1977).  Soon, many false mandrakes began to appear on the market: ginger, ginseng, May apple, orchids, celandine and the English mandrake; (Rätsch, 1992) bryony and deadly nightshade were most often used as fakes especially in Romania (Simoons, 1998).  Often the falsifier would go to great lengths to create a false mandrake: carving, pressing, and wet-molding (Simoons, 1998).  After creating a human shape, the counterfeit was placed in the ground to hide any bruises and imperfections with re-growth; (Simoons, 1998) this practice was exposed in 1567 (Gordon, 1977).  For the next hundred years misguided people still bought the counterfeits and herbalists continued to speak out against them (Gordon, 1977).  Why did people want mandrakes so badly that they’d spend a fortune on one, even a fake?

Source: http://ebling.library.wisc.edu/historical/spoonful/mandrake.php

Uses for the mandrake, both the noble and the criminal, are found in many cultures around the world.  One such use was as an aphrodisiac and a fertility boost, therefore witches in medieval Europe used them in love potions (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889).  Egyptians believed that the mandrake increased fertility (Rätsch, 1992).  Jewish people used to lay a mandrake under the bed to ensure conception (Simoons, 1998).  The possession of a mandrake meant many things for the owner especially awakened love and fertility (Rätsch, 1992).  In Persia if you gave a mandrake to a person of desire without their knowledge they would return your feelings (Simoons, 1998).  Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love was often called Mandragoritis, which means “she of the mandrake” (Simoons, 1998).  The plant was also often worn as an amulet for purity (Simoons, 1998).  In Romania the mandrake was used as a charm or talisman, in bath water for washing, and in food and drink as well as many other ways; these uses resulted in early marriage because young girls received more invitations, became better dancers and aroused passions in young men (Simoons, 1998).

The Christian Bible mentions the word dudaïm twice, which nearly all scholars now believe to mean mandrakes (Thompson, 1968).  Genesis 30:14 states “During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the field and found mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah.  Rachel said to Leah, ‘Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.’” Rachel was having a hard time conceiving and wanted the mandrakes for fertility (Thompson, 1968).  In the Song of Solomon there is a love poem that says, “The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my lover”  (Thompson, 1968).  The mandrake is also mentioned in six of William Shakespeare’s plays and was a common theme in many German and French novels of the Romantic period (Zarcone, 2005)

Source: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread820614/pg2

In the Physiologus, or “Naturalist” bestiary of the medieval times there is a story called “On the Elephant.”  In the story there are two elephants, one male, one female.  They go off to the land of paradise and the female elephant tricks the male into eating some mandrake.  The female then becomes pregnant (Simoons, 1998).  The story is reminiscent of that of Adam and Eve in the Christian Bible with the mandrake representing the forbidden fruit of knowledge.  A story about an ancient king, Hermanos, states that the king, who had no children and was not attracted to women, asked a sage for advice.  The sage told him to wait for an astrologically opportune time to obtain a mandrake and put some semen on it to create a child by alchemy.  In the legend this is how the king had children (Simoons, 1998).

The mandrake, when used as a protector was worn or kept safe rather than ingested (Simoons, 1998).  The possession of a mandrake could mean that good fortune would be found in both business and play, health, protection from spells and ghosts, divination would become possible and immortality would be within reach (Rätsch, 1992).  In Silesia, Thuringia and Bohemia, the mandrake was connected to hidden treasure (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889).  In Turkey, mandrake was used as a talisman to protect the owner against blows, stabs, and bullets (Simoons, 1998).  It was also believed that the owner could become invisible while wearing it (Simoons, 1998).  In Southern Slovakia people bathed their mandrake in milk, dried it carefully and watched over the chest it was kept in (Simoons, 1998).

In both Germany and France, where the mandrake was a popular theme of many novels of the romantic period, the owner of a well cared for mandrake would not become impoverished (Simoons, 1998).  In both countries, people washed their mandrake regularly in water or red wine, clothed it in silk or velvet, fed it and gave it drink twice a day and stored it in an upholstered box (Simoons, 1998).  They also believed that money placed beside a planted mandrake would increase or double (Simoons, 1998).  Also in France, the mandrake was considered a special elf called a main de gloire (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889).  Whoever found one of these mains de gloire was to give him food everyday and he would bring good fortune otherwise the main de gloire would cause the finder to die (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889).  In Saintonge, Bay of Biscay, France, fisherman would wear necklaces and bracelets of mandrake to prevent accidents (Simoons, 1998).  In Germany the mandrake was made into little idles (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889) and were kept in sealed glass bottles because they were believed to be familiar spirits that would bring good fortune and prosperity to the household (Simoons, 1998).  But the magic of the mandrake was also feared.

Due to the Christian fear of the mandrake the writers of the Bible when writing the Song of Solomon lists plants that are associated with the Virgin Mary: grapevines, apples, figs and pomegranates.  Mandrakes are decidedly not on the list because of their poison they are associated with poisonous women such as witches (Bennett, 1991).  Witches were those women who were learned in plant lore, the mandrake was a common ingredient in witches’ philters (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889) and ointments, which allowed witches to go on magical internal journeys (Rätsch, 1992).  Black witches practiced dark magic and white witches worked toward good, there were also half-hearted gray witches; (Gordon, 1977) the Christian Church oppressed these women equally.  In France in 1603 a woman was hanged for owning a mandrake and in Germany in 1630 three women were executed, also for possession; mandrakes were also burned by order of Franciscans (Simoons, 1998).  The mandrake was one of many plants that were dedicated to Hecate, the Greek goddess who taught magic.  Mandrake is sometimes called “Plant of Circe,” circaea, circaeum or circaeon, because Circe is one of Hecate’s two daughters (the other is Medea) who used magic brews to turn men into swine, as seen in the Odyssey by Homer (Gordon, 1977).  Another use for the mandrake was for medicine.

Source: http://www.gothicstamps.com/php/viewitem.php?itemid=43897&germany%20cover=search&amp;

The mandrake was used both as a useful, healing treatment and a vicious, harmful venom.  It was thought to be a cure-all by medieval naturalist who believed it could heal everything but death (Simoons, 1998).  The roots, fruits seeds and leaves were used variously for juices, wine, oil, ointment, plaster, pills, etc. (Simoons, 1998).  Mandrake was applied externally as a painkiller, both internally and externally to treat snakebites, and internally to treat fever (Simoons, 1998).  Plasters and poultices made of mandrake were used to reduce inflammation; other mandrake mixtures were used as eye medicine, and to treat tumors, abscesses, ulcers, wounds and gout (Simoons, 1998).  Mandrake was also used as an emetic to expel phlegm, bile, menstrua or embryo (Simoons, 1998).  St. Hildegard of Bingen believed that if you had a sore foot you should eat the foot of a mandrake, if your head ached, eat the head of the plant, for neck or back problems eating the neck or back of a mandrake would restore you, etc.  (Simoons, 1998).  In many cultures the mandrake was believed to take a disease from the owner (Simoons, 1998).  The mandrake could recover from the disease if it was not well cared for but it could also pass the disease on to the next owner (Simoons, 1998).

The juice of the mandrake was used as an anti-inflammatory for the eyes and as a means to regulate the menstrual cycle (Zarcone, 2005).  According to Dioscorides, the mandrake could be used to treat insomnia and to reduce the sensitivity to pain (Zarcone, 2005).  The mandrake leaves shine brightly at night, because of this it was often associated with the moon and used to treat illnesses associated with the moon such as epilepsy and possession (lunacy) (Simoons, 1998).  In the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, mandrakes are the only effective cure for “petrification.”  When Hogwarts students are petrified from the indirect glare of a basilisk (a giant serpent) they are taken to Madam Pomfrey.  She uses a potion made from sliced mandrakes to cure petrified students (Beahm, 2005).

Source: http://ebling.library.wisc.edu/historical/spoonful/potter.php

Mandrake was most commonly used as an anesthetic and a sleep agent.  The words mandros means “to sleep” and agora means “an object or substance” (Bennett, 1992).  In Roman texts, there is a place called the “Isle of Dreams,” the harbor city was called Sleep and the trees surrounding the place were poppies and mandragoras (Simoons, 1998).  In early Greek and Latin writings it is said that the mandrake was placed under the patient’s pillow to induce sleep, a concoction of the roots and dried fruit was made into sleeping pills, a mixture of mandrake with wine or vinegar was another sleep stimulator (Simoons, 1998).  Dioscorides said that the mandrake “would send people to sleep during medical procedures” (Zarcone, 2005).

Simoons writes of three stories in which the drugging power of the mandrake is prominent.  Plato wrote the first of a ship captain who’s mutinous crew drugged him and took over.  A Roman soldier and author told the second story of a soldier named Maharbal who led his troops into Africa to end a rebellion.  Marharbal knew of the African’s fondness for wine and staged a minor skirmish before retreating.  He left baggage and some mandrake wine behind, which the Africans drank.  When all the Africans were asleep Marharbal returned and took them prisoner.  Polyaenus, a Macedonian who lived in Rome wrote the third story in which Caesar escaped his kidnappers using mandrake.  Caesar had been kidnapped by pirates and requested to send a message to his troops demanding ransom.  His soldiers brought many treasures, including mandrake wine, to barter for Caesar’s life.  The pirates drank the wine and fell asleep allowing Caesar to escape with all the treasures and his troops.  To contrast these healing medicinal uses there are also harmful medicinal uses or side-effects of usage.

Symptoms from ingestion of a tincture in a 19th century study included pupil dilation, vision enlargement and confusion, exaggeration of sound, brain fullness, hysterical excitement (Simoons, 1998).  A Welsh saying states that a person who uproots a mandrake (black byrony) will die within a year, while groaning, raving or reciting prayers for having committed the offense.  (Simoons, 1998)  An Arabic belief was that sufficient quantities could bring elation and agitation to the point of insanity (Simoons, 1998).  A Persian belief was if you give an unaware person mandrake they would develop a violent passion.  If you add some mandrake to lemon juice or curdled milk the person will go insane (Simoons, 1998).  In Southern Slovakia they thought that if a mandrake were cut open while being dug up the digger would go insane (Simoons, 1998).  Even today in Romania some people believe the mandrake brings madness (Simoons, 1998).  Other symptoms include increased blood pressure, an increase or decrease in muscle tonus and a decrease in secretion activity like saliva and gastric juices (Hanus, 2007).

From the time it was introduced to Dioscorides by the Greek goddess of discovery (Thiselton, 1889) to present day when the mandrake is still considered sacred among Bedouins of Israel (Rätsch, 2005), the mandrake has had it’s ups and downs in human culture.  The mandrake is the oldest known narcotic plant (Rushman, 1996).  The fruit was found in the tomb of Tut Ankh Amun (Gordon, 1977) meaning it was important to that Pharaoh.  The decline of the mandrake can be attributed to the availability of better painkillers and to the fact that the claims about its powers were never tested or confirmed (Simoons, 1998).  Phillip Miller discovered that the mandrake did not scream when pulled up (Gordon, 1977), dogs were no longer needed and the magic of the plant was lost.  Soon after his discovery the mandrake became a mere good luck charm (Gordon, 1977).  After the mandrake was removed from the English pharmacopoeia in 1746 it was never restored.  In modern medicine it is completely obsolete and considered only in folk medicine (Simoons, 1998).

Today mandrakes are still found hanging on the walls in Palestinian houses, but the meaning is unknown.   Both the use of a dog and a pole to dig up a mandrake were used in Italy (Zarcone, 2005) and in various Germanic countries the pole method was used within the last century (Zarcone, 2005).  The only medical use for mandrake today is that it is found in many eye drops that are used to paralyze the eye muscle and dilate the pupil (Kramer, 2007).  The former magic and mystery surrounding the mandrake, which made it so popular in so many cultures, is now gone.  This may not prove the mandrake to be evil but it is certainly no longer useful or good.

Literature Cited 

Beahm, G.  (2005).  Fact Fiction and Folklore in Harry Potter’s World.  Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing Company Inc.  Pg. 185-186
Bennett, J.  (1991).  Lilies of the hearth.  Toronto, Canada: Camden House Publishing.  Pg. 65-66 & 74
Gordon, L.  (1977).  Green magic.  New York City, New York: The Viking Press.  Pg. 36, 50, 97-99 & 102
Hanus, OL.,  Rezanka, T.,  Spizek, J.,  Dembitsky, VM.  (2005).  Substances isolated from the Mandragora species.  Phytochemistry, 66.20, 2408-2417
Kramer, MJ.,  (2007).  Harry Potter’s Garden.  National Geographic, 212.2, 32
Rätsch, C.  (1992).  The dictionary of sacred and magical plants, London, Great Britain: Prism Press.  Pg. 121-124
Rushman, GB., Davies, NJH. Atkinson, RS., (1996). A short history of anesthesia: the first 150 years. Cornwall: Reed Educational and Professional Publishing LTD.
Simoons, FJ.  (1998).  Plants of life, plants of death.  Madison, Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press.  Pg. 101-136
Thiselton-Dyer, TF. (1889).  Folklore of plants.  New York City, New York: D. Appleton and Company.  Pg. 101, 198, 271, 317-318
Thompson, CJS.  (1968).  The mystic mandrake.  New Hyde Park, New York: University Books
Zarcone, T.  (2005).  The myth of the mandrake, the ‘plant-human’.  Diogenes, 52.3, 115-129

 

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

The Mandrake: Root of All Evil or Apple of Love

I took a course called Plants and Civilization at Colorado State University in the spring of 2011. It was based around the book Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan and is where I think my love of plants became truly solidified. I wrote this piece for my final paper and am very proud of it so I now have it published on the interweb for those who, like me, love plants and how they relate to humans.

Throughout history the mandrake has been given a reputation as both sacred and sinister in many aspects of human culture.  Evidence of both views can be found in language, uses and the rituals surrounding it.  The words people used to describe this plant include the ancient Greek word, “Love apples,” and the Arabic word, “Devil’s testicles;” (Thompson, 1968) other words in other cultures depended on the sex, use and part of the plant a person is referred to (Zarcone, 2005).  Various reasons are given for why this plant became a thing to cherish and a thing to fear; the mandrake was loved because it was considered an aphrodisiac and could increase fertility but it was also distressing due to it’s magic and it’s poison (Bennett, 1991).

The mandrake is a perennial herb and member to a family that includes both foul and beneficial plants: the Solanaceae family (Simoons, 1998).  Some relatives include edible plants such as the potato and the tomato and poisonous plants like deadly nightshade. (Simoons, 1998).  The substances that make up a mandrake are also conflicting.  All mandrake species contain up to 0.4% alkaloids (Rätsch 1992).  The chief active ingredient is scopolamine, a hallucinogen and a poison (Bennett, 1991).  Another major substance in mandrakes is atropine, which is found in highest levels in the roots of flowering mandrake and is known to cause the pupil dilation and got it’s name from Atropos, one of three Greek Fates who chose how a person would die (Hanus et al., 2007).  The heavy, fruity, provocative odor of the fruit of a mandrake, which is mentioned in a love poem in the Christian Bible, comes from over 100 different components including ethyl butyrate, hexanol and hexyl acetate (Hanus et al., 2005).

 

Source: http://mybyzantine.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/byzantine-herbs-and-drugs-%E2%80%93-the-magical-and-dangerous-mandrake/

There were many rituals surrounding the collection of a mandrake, some due to the evils associated with the plant, others due to the good.  The evil associations begin in Europe where it was believed that mandrakes only grew beneath the gallows from the matter of the hanged person (Simoons, 1998).  Daleschamps went so far as to say that mandrakes only were produced from the sperm of hanged men or men crushed on a wheel but not from women because “female sperm cannot be prolific on its own” (Zarcone, 2005).  In Iran, it was believed that the mandrake was produced from the blood of a god or primeval giant that was killed violently (Zarcone, 2005).  Because of these beliefs, one rule for collection stated that mandrakes could only be collected beneath gallows or at crossroads, especially where suicide was involved (Simoons, 1998).

New rules and formulas for digging up mandrakes began popping up in various areas of the world; the most common ritual involved the use of a dog.  In Roman, Greek, Persian and Turkish there are various forms of words that refer to the mandrake and mean human plant (Simoons, 1998) because it is thought to look like a man due to the thick, fleshy root’s resemblance to the human-form (Beahm, 2005), and the rootlets give the impression of hair for a beard (Zarcone, 2005).  Many cultures believed that the mandrake was a living spirit that would shriek when uprooted killing the digger (Rätsch, 1992).  In a Persian engraving a man is seen wearing a turban to protect his ears and pulling up a mandrake with the assistance of a dog (Zarcone, 2005) because dogs were often employed to pull up the roots.  The owner of the dog would starve the dog for a few days then they would tie a string between the dog and the plant and lure the dog with food (Thompson, 1968).  The dog would pull up the plant and die from the shriek; the digger would be safe to collect the mandrake (Rätsch, 1992).  In South Europe and Southwest Asia, the dog’s that were used to pull up mandrakes were sometimes honored, and the bodies were burned (Simoons, 1998).  If one wanted to avoid the loss of a dog when digging the plant, a pole was used instead.  If you stuck the pole deeply in the ground and bent it before tying a string between its end and the mandrake, the pole would pull the mandrake from the ground as it righted itself (Zarcone, 2005).

 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mandragora_Tacuinum_Sanitatis.jpg

Some good rituals involved circles, dancing and love poems.  The circles were used both to prevent the mandrake from fleeing and to mark possession over the mandrake (Simoons, 1998).  One rule said that the herbalist must surround the mandrake when trying to collect it or it will run away (Zarcone, 2005).  Theophrastus said that three circles should be drawn around the plant with a sword (Simoons, 1998).  One person should face west and cut the mandrake from the ground while the other dances around it speaking of love (Simoons, 1998).  In Romania, girls would collect mandrake in the nude, they would then prostrate themselves three times toward the east and walk around the plant three times while reciting magic formulas, each of these actions were meant to increase fertility (Simoons, 1998).

Other rituals stated suitable times for collection including: midnight, on Fridays before sunrise, or on Tuesdays in December or March when the sun is shining (Simoons, 1998).  The collection of mandrake in Romania often required the assistance of a sorceress, or “old wise woman” and was conducted in secret at night when there was a full moon (Simoons, 1998).  Another ritual stated that to reveal the roots, or feet and hands of the mandrake, one must use an ivory spade (Zarcone, 2005).

Mandrakes were heavily traded throughout Europe (Simoons, 1998).  The plant was rare and it was perilous to collect, therefore it was often extremely expensive (Rätsch, 1992).  The plants were so important to families that they were often passed down through wills (Simoons, 1998).  Mandrakes were carved to render them more lifelike, increase their value and to fool barren women who were eager to buy them (Gordon, 1977).  Soon, many false mandrakes began to appear on the market: ginger, ginseng, May apple, orchids, celandine and the English mandrake; (Rätsch, 1992) bryony and deadly nightshade were most often used as fakes especially in Romania (Simoons, 1998).  Often the falsifier would go to great lengths to create a false mandrake: carving, pressing, and wet-molding (Simoons, 1998).  After creating a human shape, the counterfeit was placed in the ground to hide any bruises and imperfections with re-growth; (Simoons, 1998) this practice was exposed in 1567 (Gordon, 1977).  For the next hundred years misguided people still bought the counterfeits and herbalists continued to speak out against them (Gordon, 1977).  Why did people want mandrakes so badly that they’d spend a fortune on one, even a fake?

 

Source: http://ebling.library.wisc.edu/historical/spoonful/mandrake.php

Uses for the mandrake, both the noble and the criminal, are found in many cultures around the world.  One such use was as an aphrodisiac and a fertility boost, therefore witches in medieval Europe used them in love potions (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889).  Egyptians believed that the mandrake increased fertility (Rätsch, 1992).  Jewish people used to lay a mandrake under the bed to ensure conception (Simoons, 1998).  The possession of a mandrake meant many things for the owner especially awakened love and fertility (Rätsch, 1992).  In Persia if you gave a mandrake to a person of desire without their knowledge they would return your feelings (Simoons, 1998).  Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love was often called Mandragoritis, which means “she of the mandrake” (Simoons, 1998).  The plant was also often worn as an amulet for purity (Simoons, 1998).  In Romania the mandrake was used as a charm or talisman, in bath water for washing, and in food and drink as well as many other ways; these uses resulted in early marriage because young girls received more invitations, became better dancers and aroused passions in young men (Simoons, 1998).

The Christian Bible mentions the word dudaïm twice, which nearly all scholars now believe to mean mandrakes (Thompson, 1968).  Genesis 30:14 states “During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the field and found mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah.  Rachel said to Leah, ‘Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.’” Rachel was having a hard time conceiving and wanted the mandrakes for fertility (Thompson, 1968).  In the Song of Solomon there is a love poem that says, “The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my lover”  (Thompson, 1968).  The mandrake is also mentioned in six of William Shakespeare’s plays and was a common theme in many German and French novels of the Romantic period (Zarcone, 2005)

Source: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread820614/pg2

In the Physiologus, or “Naturalist” bestiary of the medieval times there is a story called “On the Elephant.”  In the story there are two elephants, one male, one female.  They go off to the land of paradise and the female elephant tricks the male into eating some mandrake.  The female then becomes pregnant (Simoons, 1998).  The story is reminiscent of that of Adam and Eve in the Christian Bible with the mandrake representing the forbidden fruit of knowledge.  A story about an ancient king, Hermanos, states that the king, who had no children and was not attracted to women, asked a sage for advice.  The sage told him to wait for an astrologically opportune time to obtain a mandrake and put some semen on it to create a child by alchemy.  In the legend this is how the king had children (Simoons, 1998).

The mandrake, when used as a protector was worn or kept safe rather than ingested (Simoons, 1998).  The possession of a mandrake could mean that good fortune would be found in both business and play, health, protection from spells and ghosts, divination would become possible and immortality would be within reach (Rätsch, 1992).  In Silesia, Thuringia and Bohemia, the mandrake was connected to hidden treasure (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889).  In Turkey, mandrake was used as a talisman to protect the owner against blows, stabs, and bullets (Simoons, 1998).  It was also believed that the owner could become invisible while wearing it (Simoons, 1998).  In Southern Slovakia people bathed their mandrake in milk, dried it carefully and watched over the chest it was kept in (Simoons, 1998).

In both Germany and France, where the mandrake was a popular theme of many novels of the romantic period, the owner of a well cared for mandrake would not become impoverished (Simoons, 1998).  In both countries, people washed their mandrake regularly in water or red wine, clothed it in silk or velvet, fed it and gave it drink twice a day and stored it in an upholstered box (Simoons, 1998).  They also believed that money placed beside a planted mandrake would increase or double (Simoons, 1998).  Also in France, the mandrake was considered a special elf called a main de gloire (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889).  Whoever found one of these mains de gloire was to give him food everyday and he would bring good fortune otherwise the main de gloire would cause the finder to die (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889).  In Saintonge, Bay of Biscay, France, fisherman would wear necklaces and bracelets of mandrake to prevent accidents (Simoons, 1998).  In Germany the mandrake was made into little idles (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889) and were kept in sealed glass bottles because they were believed to be familiar spirits that would bring good fortune and prosperity to the household (Simoons, 1998).  But the magic of the mandrake was also feared.

Due to the Christian fear of the mandrake the writers of the Bible when writing the Song of Solomon lists plants that are associated with the Virgin Mary: grapevines, apples, figs and pomegranates.  Mandrakes are decidedly not on the list because of their poison they are associated with poisonous women such as witches (Bennett, 1991).  Witches were those women who were learned in plant lore, the mandrake was a common ingredient in witches’ philters (Thiselton-Dyer, 1889) and ointments, which allowed witches to go on magical internal journeys (Rätsch, 1992).  Black witches practiced dark magic and white witches worked toward good, there were also half-hearted gray witches; (Gordon, 1977) the Christian Church oppressed these women equally.  In France in 1603 a woman was hanged for owning a mandrake and in Germany in 1630 three women were executed, also for possession; mandrakes were also burned by order of Franciscans (Simoons, 1998).  The mandrake was one of many plants that were dedicated to Hecate, the Greek goddess who taught magic.  Mandrake is sometimes called “Plant of Circe,” circaea, circaeum or circaeon, because Circe is one of Hecate’s two daughters (the other is Medea) who used magic brews to turn men into swine, as seen in the Odyssey by Homer (Gordon, 1977).  Another use for the mandrake was for medicine.

Source: http://www.gothicstamps.com/php/viewitem.php?itemid=43897&germany%20cover=search&amp;

The mandrake was used both as a useful, healing treatment and a vicious, harmful venom.  It was thought to be a cure-all by medieval naturalist who believed it could heal everything but death (Simoons, 1998).  The roots, fruits seeds and leaves were used variously for juices, wine, oil, ointment, plaster, pills, etc. (Simoons, 1998).  Mandrake was applied externally as a painkiller, both internally and externally to treat snakebites, and internally to treat fever (Simoons, 1998).  Plasters and poultices made of mandrake were used to reduce inflammation; other mandrake mixtures were used as eye medicine, and to treat tumors, abscesses, ulcers, wounds and gout (Simoons, 1998).  Mandrake was also used as an emetic to expel phlegm, bile, menstrua or embryo (Simoons, 1998).  St. Hildegard of Bingen believed that if you had a sore foot you should eat the foot of a mandrake, if your head ached, eat the head of the plant, for neck or back problems eating the neck or back of a mandrake would restore you, etc.  (Simoons, 1998).  In many cultures the mandrake was believed to take a disease from the owner (Simoons, 1998).  The mandrake could recover from the disease if it was not well cared for but it could also pass the disease on to the next owner (Simoons, 1998).

The juice of the mandrake was used as an anti-inflammatory for the eyes and as a means to regulate the menstrual cycle (Zarcone, 2005).  According to Dioscorides, the mandrake could be used to treat insomnia and to reduce the sensitivity to pain (Zarcone, 2005).  The mandrake leaves shine brightly at night, because of this it was often associated with the moon and used to treat illnesses associated with the moon such as epilepsy and possession (lunacy) (Simoons, 1998).  In the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, mandrakes are the only effective cure for “petrification.”  When Hogwarts students are petrified from the indirect glare of a basilisk (a giant serpent) they are taken to Madam Pomfrey.  She uses a potion made from sliced mandrakes to cure petrified students (Beahm, 2005).

Source: http://ebling.library.wisc.edu/historical/spoonful/potter.php

Mandrake was most commonly used as an anesthetic and a sleep agent.  The words mandros means “to sleep” and agora means “an object or substance” (Bennett, 1992).  In Roman texts, there is a place called the “Isle of Dreams,” the harbor city was called Sleep and the trees surrounding the place were poppies and mandragoras (Simoons, 1998).  In early Greek and Latin writings it is said that the mandrake was placed under the patient’s pillow to induce sleep, a concoction of the roots and dried fruit was made into sleeping pills, a mixture of mandrake with wine or vinegar was another sleep stimulator (Simoons, 1998).  Dioscorides said that the mandrake “would send people to sleep during medical procedures” (Zarcone, 2005).

Simoons writes of three stories in which the drugging power of the mandrake is prominent.  Plato wrote the first of a ship captain who’s mutinous crew drugged him and took over.  A Roman soldier and author told the second story of a soldier named Maharbal who led his troops into Africa to end a rebellion.  Marharbal knew of the African’s fondness for wine and staged a minor skirmish before retreating.  He left baggage and some mandrake wine behind, which the Africans drank.  When all the Africans were asleep Marharbal returned and took them prisoner.  Polyaenus, a Macedonian who lived in Rome wrote the third story in which Caesar escaped his kidnappers using mandrake.  Caesar had been kidnapped by pirates and requested to send a message to his troops demanding ransom.  His soldiers brought many treasures, including mandrake wine, to barter for Caesar’s life.  The pirates drank the wine and fell asleep allowing Caesar to escape with all the treasures and his troops.  To contrast these healing medicinal uses there are also harmful medicinal uses or side-effects of usage.

Symptoms from ingestion of a tincture in a 19th century study included pupil dilation, vision enlargement and confusion, exaggeration of sound, brain fullness, hysterical excitement (Simoons, 1998).  A Welsh saying states that a person who uproots a mandrake (black byrony) will die within a year, while groaning, raving or reciting prayers for having committed the offense.  (Simoons, 1998)  An Arabic belief was that sufficient quantities could bring elation and agitation to the point of insanity (Simoons, 1998).  A Persian belief was if you give an unaware person mandrake they would develop a violent passion.  If you add some mandrake to lemon juice or curdled milk the person will go insane (Simoons, 1998).  In Southern Slovakia they thought that if a mandrake were cut open while being dug up the digger would go insane (Simoons, 1998).  Even today in Romania some people believe the mandrake brings madness (Simoons, 1998).  Other symptoms include increased blood pressure, an increase or decrease in muscle tonus and a decrease in secretion activity like saliva and gastric juices (Hanus, 2007).

From the time it was introduced to Dioscorides by the Greek goddess of discovery (Thiselton, 1889) to present day when the mandrake is still considered sacred among Bedouins of Israel (Rätsch, 2005), the mandrake has had it’s ups and downs in human culture.  The mandrake is the oldest known narcotic plant (Rushman, 1996).  The fruit was found in the tomb of Tut Ankh Amun (Gordon, 1977) meaning it was important to that Pharaoh.  The decline of the mandrake can be attributed to the availability of better painkillers and to the fact that the claims about its powers were never tested or confirmed (Simoons, 1998).  Phillip Miller discovered that the mandrake did not scream when pulled up (Gordon, 1977), dogs were no longer needed and the magic of the plant was lost.  Soon after his discovery the mandrake became a mere good luck charm (Gordon, 1977).  After the mandrake was removed from the English pharmacopoeia in 1746 it was never restored.  In modern medicine it is completely obsolete and considered only in folk medicine (Simoons, 1998).

Today mandrakes are still found hanging on the walls in Palestinian houses, but the meaning is unknown.   Both the use of a dog and a pole to dig up a mandrake were used in Italy (Zarcone, 2005) and in various Germanic countries the pole method was used within the last century (Zarcone, 2005).  The only medical use for mandrake today is that it is found in many eye drops that are used to paralyze the eye muscle and dilate the pupil (Kramer, 2007).  The former magic and mystery surrounding the mandrake, which made it so popular in so many cultures, is now gone.  This may not prove the mandrake to be evil but it is certainly no longer useful or good.

Literature Cited 

Beahm, G.  (2005).  Fact Fiction and Folklore in Harry Potter’s World.  Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing Company Inc.  Pg. 185-186
Bennett, J.  (1991).  Lilies of the hearth.  Toronto, Canada: Camden House Publishing.  Pg. 65-66 & 74
Gordon, L.  (1977).  Green magic.  New York City, New York: The Viking Press.  Pg. 36, 50, 97-99 & 102
Hanus, OL.,  Rezanka, T.,  Spizek, J.,  Dembitsky, VM.  (2005).  Substances isolated from the Mandragora species.  Phytochemistry, 66.20, 2408-2417
Kramer, MJ.,  (2007).  Harry Potter’s Garden.  National Geographic, 212.2, 32
Rätsch, C.  (1992).  The dictionary of sacred and magical plants, London, Great Britain: Prism Press.  Pg. 121-124
Rushman, GB., Davies, NJH. Atkinson, RS., (1996). A short history of anesthesia: the first 150 years. Cornwall: Reed Educational and Professional Publishing LTD.
Simoons, FJ.  (1998).  Plants of life, plants of death.  Madison, Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press.  Pg. 101-136
Thiselton-Dyer, TF. (1889).  Folklore of plants.  New York City, New York: D. Appleton and Company.  Pg. 101, 198, 271, 317-318
Thompson, CJS.  (1968).  The mystic mandrake.  New Hyde Park, New York: University Books
Zarcone, T.  (2005).  The myth of the mandrake, the ‘plant-human’.  Diogenes, 52.3, 115-129

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is a somewhat biographical coming-of-age story about living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the early 1900s. Mary Frances Nolan – Francie – is the central character and I was addicted to her from the start. I was surprised at how quickly I became fascinated with Francie. As a young girl Francie is keenly observant, and sensitive to the beauty of her world. Maybe I see myself in her. All I know is this was a book that was hard to put down.

 

Source: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com/2011/05/tree-grows-in-brooklyn-book.html

“There’s a tree that grows in Brooklyn. Some people call it the Tree of Heaven. No matter where its seed falls, it makes a tree which struggles to reach the sky. It grows in boarded-up lots and out of neglected rubbish heaps. It grows up out of cellar gratings. It is the only tree that grows out of cement. It grows lushly . . . survives without sun, water, and seemingly without earth. It would be considered beautiful except that there are too many of it.” – Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Storyline

At the opening Francie is 11 years old. She is the oldest child of Katie and Johnny Nolan. Her brother, Neeley (short for Cornelius) is 10. We are given a tour of their neighborhood as Francie runs errand for her mother, takes her daily trip to the library and watches her neighbors from the fire escape. We find out that Katie cleans houses in exchange for free rent of their apartment, and Johnny has unreliable income through waiting tables and singing.

The story then flashes back to the summer of 1900 when Katie and Johnny first meet. Katie decides she will go through any hardship just to be with Johnny when they first dance together. Within six months they are married and support themselves by working as janitors at a school. Stress begins to set in when Francie is born in December 1901 and Neeley just a year and a week later. As the stress of living in poverty and having children eats away at Johnny, he begins drinking.

Katie and Johnny are both second generation Americans. Katie’s family is a line of strong women from Austria. She has two older sisters, Sissy and Evy. Johnny, with Irish heritage, comes from a family of weak, yet talented men (he has three brothers).

Neeley and Francie start school the same year, though they are a year apart in age. Francie, a lover of learning, always looked forward to the day she could go to school but finds it to be cruel and harsh. She changes to a school where there is no discrimination against poor children, though she still makes no friends. The flashback then catches up with the beginning of the story.

The plot line continues with various events throughout Francie’s childhood. Francie’s first encounter with sex of any kind occurs around the age of 12. She comes face to face with the sex offender who has been terrorizing the neighborhood. Her mother saves her and Francie emerges relatively unscathed. Francie starts her period around this time and witnesses women of the neighborhood stoning a young girl because she became pregnant out of wedlock. This leads Francie to become more aware of the social taboos surrounding women and sexuality.

Francie gradually sees her father’s problem with alcohol, which worsens as she grows up. He is set over the edge when he is dismissed from the Union. When Johnny discovers Katie is pregnant again he weakens further and finally dies of pneumonia (and alcoholism) on Christmas Day, five months before Annie Laurie is born.

Johnny’s death changes Francie. She stops believing in God after a lifetime of Catholic faith. She stops writing the flowery compositions that had no relation to her life experiences but earned her high marks in English, replacing them with “sordid” compositions about her father, which concerned her teacher.

Francie’s sensitive and caring nature is lost as she becomes more and more like her mother. Katie was once romantic and flighty, but turns hard and determined as she takes on the burden of earning money and sacrifices “luxuries,” such as heat and meals, for her family.

After graduating from eighth grade, both Neeley and Francie must work because Katie cannot afford to keep them in school. Francie starts working at a factory then moves to a clippings bureau where she reads newspapers all day, learns about the world outside of Brooklyn, and desperately awaits the day she can return to high school.

Unfortunately Katie, who can only afford to send one child back to school, sends Neeley instead of Francie. Although Francie never returns to high school she does take summer college courses and with Francie’s job the Nolans are able to live more comfortably.

When the United States of America enters World War I, Francie first experiences romantic love. It comes in the form of Lee Rynor, whom she falls in love with within the first 48 hours after meeting. He leaves Francie heartbroken when he marries his fiancée before heading off to war. Then Francie discovers that she enjoys the company of Ben Blake, a boy she met in summer school.

Officer McShane, a kind older man who has admired Katie from afar (and she him), asks Katie to marry him. He says he will make it possible for Laurie to grow up without hardship in exchange for the chance to be her father. He also gives Francie and Neeley a chance to go to college. Francie gets ready to attend college at the University of Michigan with Ben and the Tree of Heaven continues to grow in her backyard.

Themes and Patterns

Poverty is major themes throughout this story. Nearly every anecdote and character deals with poverty in some way. Poverty applies not only to a lack of food and heat but also results in the growing worthlessness of Johnny and ultimately his death. Resources are limited, people are exploited, but poverty is presented as the evil, not people. Everyone is thinking of his or her own family first.

Class is another theme that Smith often shows through encounters between the lower class and people of privilege. Having money may lead to an easier life but the lovable characters are those who are or once were impoverished. The rich doctor who vaccinates Francie is presented as a villain and Francie’s English teacher, who claims to have grown up with hardship, misunderstands Francie’s compositions. Neeley and Francie pity Laurie for growing up with privilege because she will not have as much fun.

A prominent theme in this book is education. Johnny, Katie and Mary Rommely (Katie’s mother) have very different personalities, but they can all agree on one thing: education is the way out for the Nolan children. Through a combination of schooling and life lessons they lead the children out of poverty; each generation receives more education than the last.

Gender roles stands out to me as a further theme. Mary Rommely states upon the birth of Francie, “to be born a woman is to be born into a humble life of pain.” This comment can be applied to both life’s pains and the pain of childbirth. Women of all faiths and socioeconomic backgrounds experience the same pain in labor. However, all the women in this book are more than equipped to handle these pains and depicted as strong while men are generally shown as the weaker sex.

Katie and Johnny are presented with the same life choices and Katie is determined to give opportunities to her children in the face of hardship while Johnny slips into a drunken dreamworld. Francie is more eager to return to school but Katie send Neeley because both women understand that Neeley would not find a way to go back where Francie will do whatever it takes to learn more at school. Aunt Evy is independent and tough and Uncle Flittman is inadequate.

Since this is a coming-of-age tale it is only natural that a fall from innocence would be not only a theme but a motif. Francie learns more and more about the world, poverty, class, status, gender, and sex, which in turn causes her to become less and less innocent. Her appreciation of small material things as a young girl turns into her realization of their hardships. Often Francie presents her fall from innocence as feeling as if she is dreaming.

The “fall” refers to both things that brought Francie pain and things that brought her knowledge. The Tree of Heaven can be viewed as a Tree of Knowledge. The tree grows up and out of very difficult situations in the same way that Francie learns through reading and life events in order to get out of poverty.

Tree of Heaven

This symbol is most interesting to me, perhaps because I love trees so much or perhaps because the idea is appealing. The tree in the title grows only in tenement districts, because it “likes poor people.” It represents perseverance in times of hardship. When Francie is born, Katie likens her life to the tree’s: Francie will keep living no matter how sick she becomes. All over Brooklyn this tree grows where no other can and out-competes those that do. When the Nolans have a fir on their fire escape they care for it with water and manure but it dies. The Tree of Heaven that grows from the concrete in their yard was cut down and a new one grew out of it’s trunk.

The tree is abundant throughout Brooklyn and is familiar to Francie, who sees it every day. It isn’t stately like the sea or mountains majesty. It is humble, and this humility makes it all the more powerful.

When Francie leaves Brooklyn, Florrie Wendy symbolically takes her place. The tree grew for Francie, it will grow for Florrie, too, as it must have for Flossie Gaddis before Francie.

Do you agree with my analysis? What themes do you find in this story?

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith is a somewhat biographical coming-of-age story about living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the early 1900s. Mary Frances Nolan – Francie – is the central character and I was addicted to her from the start. I was surprised at how quickly I became fascinated with Francie. As a young girl Francie is keenly observant, and sensitive to the beauty of her world. Maybe I see myself in her. All I know is this was a book that was hard to put down.

Source: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com/2011/05/tree-grows-in-brooklyn-book.html

“There’s a tree that grows in Brooklyn. Some people call it the Tree of Heaven. No matter where its seed falls, it makes a tree which struggles to reach the sky. It grows in boarded-up lots and out of neglected rubbish heaps. It grows up out of cellar gratings. It is the only tree that grows out of cement. It grows lushly . . . survives without sun, water, and seemingly without earth. It would be considered beautiful except that there are too many of it.” – Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Storyline

At the opening Francie is 11 years old. She is the oldest child of Katie and Johnny Nolan. Her brother, Neeley (short for Cornelius) is 10. We are given a tour of their neighborhood as Francie runs errand for her mother, takes her daily trip to the library and watches her neighbors from the fire escape. We find out that Katie cleans houses in exchange for free rent of their apartment, and Johnny has unreliable income through waiting tables and singing.

The story then flashes back to the summer of 1900 when Katie and Johnny first meet. Katie decides she will go through any hardship just to be with Johnny when they first dance together. Within six months they are married and support themselves by working as janitors at a school. Stress begins to set in when Francie is born in December 1901 and Neeley just a year and a week later. As the stress of living in poverty and having children eats away at Johnny, he begins drinking.

Katie and Johnny are both second generation Americans. Katie’s family is a line of strong women from Austria. She has two older sisters, Sissy and Evy. Johnny, with Irish heritage, comes from a family of weak, yet talented men (he has three brothers).

Neeley and Francie start school the same year, though they are a year apart in age. Francie, a lover of learning, always looked forward to the day she could go to school but finds it to be cruel and harsh. She changes to a school where there is no discrimination against poor children, though she still makes no friends. The flashback then catches up with the beginning of the story.

The plot line continues with various events throughout Francie’s childhood. Francie’s first encounter with sex of any kind occurs around the age of 12. She comes face to face with the sex offender who has been terrorizing the neighborhood. Her mother saves her and Francie emerges relatively unscathed. Francie starts her period around this time and witnesses women of the neighborhood stoning a young girl because she became pregnant out of wedlock. This leads Francie to become more aware of the social taboos surrounding women and sexuality.

Francie gradually sees her father’s problem with alcohol, which worsens as she grows up. He is set over the edge when he is dismissed from the Union. When Johnny discovers Katie is pregnant again he weakens further and finally dies of pneumonia (and alcoholism) on Christmas Day, five months before Annie Laurie is born.

Johnny’s death changes Francie. She stops believing in God after a lifetime of Catholic faith. She stops writing the flowery compositions that had no relation to her life experiences but earned her high marks in English, replacing them with “sordid” compositions about her father, which concerned her teacher.

Francie’s sensitive and caring nature is lost as she becomes more and more like her mother. Katie was once romantic and flighty, but turns hard and determined as she takes on the burden of earning money and sacrifices “luxuries,” such as heat and meals, for her family.

After graduating from eighth grade, both Neeley and Francie must work because Katie cannot afford to keep them in school. Francie starts working at a factory then moves to a clippings bureau where she reads newspapers all day, learns about the world outside of Brooklyn, and desperately awaits the day she can return to high school.

Unfortunately Katie, who can only afford to send one child back to school, sends Neeley instead of Francie. Although Francie never returns to high school she does take summer college courses and with Francie’s job the Nolans are able to live more comfortably.

When the United States of America enters World War I, Francie first experiences romantic love. It comes in the form of Lee Rynor, whom she falls in love with within the first 48 hours after meeting. He leaves Francie heartbroken when he marries his fiancée before heading off to war. Then Francie discovers that she enjoys the company of Ben Blake, a boy she met in summer school.

Officer McShane, a kind older man who has admired Katie from afar (and she him), asks Katie to marry him. He says he will make it possible for Laurie to grow up without hardship in exchange for the chance to be her father. He also gives Francie and Neeley a chance to go to college. Francie gets ready to attend college at the University of Michigan with Ben and the Tree of Heaven continues to grow in her backyard.

Themes and Patterns

Poverty is major themes throughout this story. Nearly every anecdote and character deals with poverty in some way. Poverty applies not only to a lack of food and heat but also results in the growing worthlessness of Johnny and ultimately his death. Resources are limited, people are exploited, but poverty is presented as the evil, not people. Everyone is thinking of his or her own family first.

Class is another theme that Smith often shows through encounters between the lower class and people of privilege. Having money may lead to an easier life but the lovable characters are those who are or once were impoverished. The rich doctor who vaccinates Francie is presented as a villain and Francie’s English teacher, who claims to have grown up with hardship, misunderstands Francie’s compositions. Neeley and Francie pity Laurie for growing up with privilege because she will not have as much fun.

A prominent theme in this book is education. Johnny, Katie and Mary Rommely (Katie’s mother) have very different personalities, but they can all agree on one thing: education is the way out for the Nolan children. Through a combination of schooling and life lessons they lead the children out of poverty; each generation receives more education than the last.

Gender roles stands out to me as a further theme. Mary Rommely states upon the birth of Francie, “to be born a woman is to be born into a humble life of pain.” This comment can be applied to both life’s pains and the pain of childbirth. Women of all faiths and socioeconomic backgrounds experience the same pain in labor. However, all the women in this book are more than equipped to handle these pains and depicted as strong while men are generally shown as the weaker sex.

Katie and Johnny are presented with the same life choices and Katie is determined to give opportunities to her children in the face of hardship while Johnny slips into a drunken dreamworld. Francie is more eager to return to school but Katie send Neeley because both women understand that Neeley would not find a way to go back where Francie will do whatever it takes to learn more at school. Aunt Evy is independent and tough and Uncle Flittman is inadequate.

Since this is a coming-of-age tale it is only natural that a fall from innocence would be not only a theme but a motif. Francie learns more and more about the world, poverty, class, status, gender, and sex, which in turn causes her to become less and less innocent. Her appreciation of small material things as a young girl turns into her realization of their hardships. Often Francie presents her fall from innocence as feeling as if she is dreaming.

The “fall” refers to both things that brought Francie pain and things that brought her knowledge. The Tree of Heaven can be viewed as a Tree of Knowledge. The tree grows up and out of very difficult situations in the same way that Francie learns through reading and life events in order to get out of poverty.

Tree of Heaven

This symbol is most interesting to me, perhaps because I love trees so much or perhaps because the idea is appealing. The tree in the title grows only in tenement districts, because it “likes poor people.” It represents perseverance in times of hardship. When Francie is born, Katie likens her life to the tree’s: Francie will keep living no matter how sick she becomes. All over Brooklyn this tree grows where no other can and out-competes those that do. When the Nolans have a fir on their fire escape they care for it with water and manure but it dies. The Tree of Heaven that grows from the concrete in their yard was cut down and a new one grew out of it’s trunk.

The tree is abundant throughout Brooklyn and is familiar to Francie, who sees it every day. It isn’t stately like the sea or mountains majesty. It is humble, and this humility makes it all the more powerful.

When Francie leaves Brooklyn, Florrie Wendy symbolically takes her place. The tree grew for Francie, it will grow for Florrie, too, as it must have for Flossie Gaddis before Francie.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Do you agree with my analysis? What themes do you find in this story?

50 (or so) Date Ideas

We are BORED! Bored out of our minds. Bored with ourselves, bored with our stuff, bored with our house, bored with our day-to-day lives. Just plain bored. It’s about time to spice things up around here. We want more time with each other, more time without stuff, more time away from the house, more excitement and creativity. I found an idea on Pinterest (regretfully I forgot to pin it and have no link) to fill a jar with popsicles sticks each with a date idea written on it. We went ahead and gave it a try.

First we gathered our supplies:

 

multi-colored popsicle sticks, thin point Sharpies, two plastic bags (one for new ideas and one for used ideas), and sustenance

We assigned the colors of the popsicle sticks as follows:

• Red = Things to do at home
• Yellow = Free things
• Green = $
• Blue = $$$

We then started brainstorming ideas and writing them down, some examples are listed here:

• Go to the local art museum
• Take a brewery tour
• Write a novel
• Buy coloring books and color in them
• Make a home video
• Rent a hotel room for the night
• etc.

Originally we were going to use bags but I found this jar in my cabinet so the new ideas were placed in it when completed (used ideas still go in a little bag).

We didn’t fill in all of the popsicle sticks so we made one that says simple “Make new popsicle sticks.”

http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N963.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6527721.7;dcadv=3632184;sz=180×150;lid=41000000028007181;pid=NMG51146;usg=AFHzDLu0fWE6lbFbnherRIsbuZEI9JV8Hw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.funtoymall.com%252Fnmg51146.html%253Fmr%253AtrackingCode%253DFBD64503-0DE4-E111-8FF3-001B21BCC0BC%2526mr%253AreferralID%253DNA;pubid=575791;price=%246.30;title=American+Classics+Corp…;merc=FuntoyMall;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fsite.unbeatablesale.com%2Fimg268%2Fnmg51146.gif;width=59;height=85http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N963.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6527721.7;dcadv=3632184;sz=180×150;lid=41000000024781945;pid=216079;usg=AFHzDLunczpSvw8crm6tzu4upfG9iYNPTQ;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.samsclub.com%252Fsams%252Fball-regular-mouth-jars-8-oz-24-jars%252F187726.ip%253Fpid%253D_DoubleClick_Affiliates%2526ci_src%253D15781033%2526ci_sku%253D216079;pubid=575791;price=%2418.86;title=Ball+Regular+Mouth+Jar…;merc=Sam%27s+Club;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fs7d2.scene7.com%2Fis%2Fimage%2Fsamsclub%2Fs7product%2F0001440060000_A.jpg;width=85;height=85http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6631428.7927;sz=180×150;ord=timestamp?;lid=41000000005217789;pid=10000722;usg=AFHzDLtszl_Za14lFVHJlQH7fyW8uWZtuw;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.officemax.com%252Foffice-supplies%252Fpens-pencils-markers%252Fmarkers%252Fpermanent-markers%252Fproduct-ARS19646%253Fcm_mmc%253DPerformics-_-Office%252520Supplies-_-Pens%252C%252520Pencils%252C%252520and%252520Markers-_-Markers%2526ci_src%253D14110944%2526ci_sku%253D10000722;pubid=575791;price=%248.28;title=Sharpie+Fine+Point+Per…;merc=OfficeMax;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.officemax.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2F397x353%2F10000722i_01.jpg;width=95;height=85

For ideas for your own popsicle stick dates follow the links below.

• Unusual (and fun) Date Ideas
• 30 Date Ideas for a Date Night at Home
• 50 Fun and Cheap Date Ideas
• 100 Great Date-Night Ideas
• 20 Date Night Ideas

What are some of your great date-night ideas?

50 (or so) Date Ideas

We are BORED! Bored out of our minds. Bored with ourselves, bored with our stuff, bored with our house, bored with our day-to-day lives. Just plain bored. It’s about time to spice things up around here. We want more time with each other, more time without stuff, more time away from the house, more excitement and creativity. I found an idea on Pinterest (regretfully I forgot to pin it and have no link) to fill a jar with popsicles sticks each with a date idea written on it. We went ahead and gave it a try.

First we gathered our supplies:

multi-colored popsicle sticks, thin point Sharpies, two plastic bags (one for new ideas and one for used ideas), and sustenance

We assigned the colors of the popsicle sticks as follows:

• Red = Things to do at home
• Yellow = Free things
• Green = $
• Blue = $$$

We then started brainstorming ideas and writing them down, some examples are listed here:

• Go to the local art museum
• Take a brewery tour
• Write a novel
• Buy coloring books and color in them
• Make a home video
• Rent a hotel room for the night
• etc.

Originally we were going to use bags but I found this jar in my cabinet so the new ideas were placed in it when completed (used ideas still go in a little bag).

We didn’t fill in all of the popsicle sticks so we made one that says simple “Make new popsicle sticks.”

For ideas for your own popsicle stick dates follow the links below.

• Unusual (and fun) Date Ideas
• 30 Date Ideas for a Date Night at Home
• 50 Fun and Cheap Date Ideas
• 100 Great Date-Night Ideas
• 20 Date Night Ideas

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

What are some of your great date-night ideas?

Mighty Squats Challenge

Squats… it’s a horrible word, but a wonderful workout especially if you want a nice round butt (yoga pants can help with this as well). Surprisingly, I watch this video (and do the workout, I swear) every other day. Cassey Ho is super (impossibly) peppy and also inspirational.  I’ve watched (and done, I swear) her other videos available on YouTube and her blog.

If you like the song Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen (or at least think it’s catchy like I do) then this squats challenge is strangely quite enjoyable. AND it only takes about six minutes, BUT if you want to skip to the workout it starts at 31 seconds and ends at about four minutes, SO the workout is actually only about three minutes and 30 seconds long… NO BREAKS!

Now…

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Do you enjoy squats? How do you tone your butt and thighs?

Mighty Squats Challenge

Squats… it’s a horrible word, but a wonderful workout especially if you want a nice round butt (yoga pants can help with this as well). Surprisingly, I watch this video (and do the workout, I swear) every other day. Cassey Ho is super (impossibly) peppy and also inspirational.  I’ve watched (and done, I swear) her other videos available on YouTube and her blog.

If you like the song Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen (or at least think it’s catchy like I do) then this squats challenge is strangely quite enjoyable. AND it only takes about six minutes, BUT if you want to skip to the workout it starts at 31 seconds and ends at about four minutes, SO the workout is actually only about three minutes and 30 seconds long… NO BREAKS!

Now…

Do you enjoy squats? How do you tone your butt and thighs?

Every Book In the Entire World

Many of you might know that my first project this summer was my patio garden and the hanging gutter garden. Now that my only responsibility in the garden is to water once or twice a day and harvest what comes up, I’ve been working on my next project: reading.

I was inspired to read ALL the books after reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (***UPDATE*** read the review here) to read because she has a goal to read all the book in her library starting with A and ending with Z. I’m taking the opportunity to start now.

Over the years (since high school or maybe earlier) I’ve kept lists of books I want to read. Some can be found on odd bits of paper, other on my Pinterest board and still more in notebooks. I finally compiled all of these lists into one massive list, and I mean MASSIVE. It’s an excel spread sheet with tabs for which list the books came from and is conditionally formatted so that once I’ve read the book the box will change color (I have a lot of time on my hands).

Some of the books are classics, some are modern, there are fiction and non-fiction, poetry and history and everything else you can think of and I will be reading, quite literally, until I die.

I don’t just want to read the books; I want to analyze them as well. The way I did in high school, which is why I am also planning to write reviews for each book as I finish it and post it here, on my blog. The first one was Life of Pi (read it here). I also wrote a bit about Harry Potter (read it here). So that’s the plan.

 If you’re interested in my books lists…

Books that were recommended to me by friends, family, professors and/or my own bookshelf:

• Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
• Wish You Well by David Baldacci
• My First Summer in the Sierra by Thomas Muir
• Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
• The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
• The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
• The Collector of Worlds by Iliya Troyanov
• The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell
• Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors
• Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
• Multiple books by Sharon Kay Penman
• The Story of B by Daniel Quinn
• Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
• A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
• Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
• Walden by Henry David Thoreau
• The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
• A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Websites with other booklists:

• 10 Books Every Girl in Her 20s Should Read: List gives books that are help through or are about the transition into adulthood.
• 40 Books that you Won’t Be Able to Put Down: Self-explanatory
• Rory Gilmore Book Challenge: Books read by Rory or Mentioned on the TV show Gilmore Girls (over 250 books).
• 15 Books to Cure Your Hunger Games Hangover: These are young adult fiction that are similar to the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.
• 25 Books to Read if You Love the Hunger Games: Same idea to the previous bullet, read the update at the bottom as well.
• 10 Awesome Fantasy Series that Aren’t HP or LOTR: Great list if you’re a fantasy lover.
• Most Popular Books: I think this list changes because it’s different from when I first read it. Still a good list though.
• 50 Most Influential Books of the Last 50 (or so) Years: Books that set something in motion or changed the way society thinks about things.
• 1001 Book You Must Read Before You Die: For the really ambitious.

What’s on your book list? What is your favorite book?

Every Book In the Entire World

Many of you might know that my first project this summer was my patio garden and the hanging gutter garden. Now that my only responsibility in the garden is to water once or twice a day and harvest what comes up, I’ve been working on my next project: reading.

I was inspired to read ALL the books after reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (***UPDATE*** read the review here) to read because she has a goal to read all the book in her library starting with A and ending with Z. I’m taking the opportunity to start now.

Over the years (since high school or maybe earlier) I’ve kept lists of books I want to read. Some can be found on odd bits of paper, other on my Pinterest board and still more in notebooks. I finally compiled all of these lists into one massive list, and I mean MASSIVE. It’s an excel spread sheet with tabs for which list the books came from and is conditionally formatted so that once I’ve read the book the box will change color (I have a lot of time on my hands).

Some of the books are classics, some are modern, there are fiction and non-fiction, poetry and history and everything else you can think of and I will be reading, quite literally, until I die.

I don’t just want to read the books; I want to analyze them as well. The way I did in high school, which is why I am also planning to write reviews for each book as I finish it and post it here, on my blog. The first one was Life of Pi (read it here). I also wrote a bit about Harry Potter (read it here). So that’s the plan.

 If you’re interested in my books lists…

Books that were recommended to me by friends, family, professors and/or my own bookshelf:

• Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
• Wish You Well by David Baldacci
• My First Summer in the Sierra by Thomas Muir
• Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
• The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
• The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
• The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
• The Collector of Worlds by Iliya Troyanov
• The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell
• Beside a Burning Sea by John Shors
• Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
• Multiple books by Sharon Kay Penman
• The Story of B by Daniel Quinn
• Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
• A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
• Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
• Walden by Henry David Thoreau
• The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
• A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Websites with other booklists:

• 10 Books Every Girl in Her 20s Should Read: List gives books that are help through or are about the transition into adulthood.
• 40 Books that you Won’t Be Able to Put Down: Self-explanatory
• Rory Gilmore Book Challenge: Books read by Rory or Mentioned on the TV show Gilmore Girls (over 250 books).
• 15 Books to Cure Your Hunger Games Hangover: These are young adult fiction that are similar to the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.
• 25 Books to Read if You Love the Hunger Games: Same idea to the previous bullet, read the update at the bottom as well.
• 10 Awesome Fantasy Series that Aren’t HP or LOTR: Great list if you’re a fantasy lover.
• Most Popular Books: I think this list changes because it’s different from when I first read it. Still a good list though.
• 100 Books Every High School Student Should Read: These are all the classics that most people DO read in high school.
• 50 Most Influential Books of the Last 50 (or so) Years: Books that set something in motion or changed the way society thinks about things.
• 1001 Book You Must Read Before You Die: For the really ambitious.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

What’s on your book list? What is your favorite book?

Summer Lovin’

I was riding my bike over to CSU campus. My mission was to deliver my boyfriends Kindle Fire to him at work. It’s about a 15-minute bike ride from our house along a bike path. I was suddenly struck by inspiration on this ride, like lightening… it was electrifying. My discovery was that I love summer. I mean I already knew that I love summer but I never knew exactly what it was about summer that I love.

 

Source: http://galadarling.com/

I love riding my bike. There is nothing as freeing as riding a bike. The wind in my hair, my own two legs propelling me forward, a quick smile or a wave to those I pass along the way. Summer is the best time for bike rides, no ice, no rain, no gloves, no coat; only warm temperatures and sun on skin.

 

Source: http://browndresswithwhitedots.tumblr.com/page/196

I love riding my bike close to the edge of the grass, where the sprinklers miss their target and droplets land on the sidewalk. It’s a refreshing burst in the heat of the afternoon when those droplets hit bare legs and arms. There’s nothing quite like that feeling.

I love the smell of a black as night, freshly re-paved parking lot baking in the sun. To me it smells slightly minty; I can’t describe it in any other way. Not the mint you smell in chewing gum or tea leaves, but it’s own unique kind of minty. And it’s so black you can almost see your reflection shining in it. The heat waves rise up from the tar, making everything look hazy. Some might say it’s so hot you could cook an egg on it. The air temperature above the pavement is noticeably warmer than anywhere else around you, and you let it embrace you as you race across.

Source: http://www.ilovesweethearts.co.uk/blogJo/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/summer1.jpg

I love the greenness of the environment. Everything seems to be pulsing with life, growing and changing. I stretch out over grass in the shade of a big elm tree staring up through the leaves at the patches of a blue sky. Fluffy white clouds pass overhead creating shapes and telling stories.

I love having an open schedule with full days I can devote to reading a book. Not a book required for my college education but one I choose to read for a different kind of education.

 

Pinterest (original source lost)

I love the heat bouncing off the sidewalk, the sweat running down my back, the tank tops and shorts, the sandals, the nighttime bonfires, the chilly showers after lunch, the pool days, my garden, picnics in the mountains, the smell of sunscreen, the frappuccinos, the flowers, the swim suits, etc. etc. etc.

Ah, the joys of summer. What’s your favorite season?

Summer Lovin’

I was riding my bike over to CSU campus. My mission was to deliver my boyfriends Kindle Fire to him at work. It’s about a 15-minute bike ride from our house along a bike path. I was suddenly struck by inspiration on this ride, like lightening… it was electrifying. My discovery was that I love summer. I mean I already knew that I love summer but I never knew exactly what it was about summer that I love.

Source: http://galadarling.com/

I love riding my bike. There is nothing as freeing as riding a bike. The wind in my hair, my own two legs propelling me forward, a quick smile or a wave to those I pass along the way. Summer is the best time for bike rides, no ice, no rain, no gloves, no coat; only warm temperatures and sun on skin.

Source: http://browndresswithwhitedots.tumblr.com/page/196

I love riding my bike close to the edge of the grass, where the sprinklers miss their target and droplets land on the sidewalk. It’s a refreshing burst in the heat of the afternoon when those droplets hit bare legs and arms. There’s nothing quite like that feeling.

I love the smell of a black as night, freshly re-paved parking lot baking in the sun. To me it smells slightly minty; I can’t describe it in any other way. Not the mint you smell in chewing gum or tea leaves, but it’s own unique kind of minty. And it’s so black you can almost see your reflection shining in it. The heat waves rise up from the tar, making everything look hazy. Some might say it’s so hot you could cook an egg on it. The air temperature above the pavement is noticeably warmer than anywhere else around you, and you let it embrace you as you race across.

Source: http://www.ilovesweethearts.co.uk/blogJo/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/summer1.jpg

I love the greenness of the environment. Everything seems to be pulsing with life, growing and changing. I stretch out over grass in the shade of a big elm tree staring up through the leaves at the patches of a blue sky. Fluffy white clouds pass overhead creating shapes and telling stories.

I love having an open schedule with full days I can devote to reading a book. Not a book required for my college education but one I choose to read for a different kind of education.

Pinterest (original source lost)

I love the heat bouncing off the sidewalk, the sweat running down my back, the tank tops and shorts, the sandals, the nighttime bonfires, the chilly showers after lunch, the pool days, my garden, picnics in the mountains, the smell of sunscreen, the frappuccinos, the flowers, the swim suits, etc. etc. etc.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Ah, the joys of summer. What’s your favorite season?

Life of Pi

I’ve never been shipwrecked, or out at sea for that matter. But author Yann Matel has written a story that made me experience the hunger, and the thirst, the cold, and the heat, the dryness, and the wetness, the fear, and the joy, the disgust, and the beauty of being lost at sea in his novel Life of Pi. The story, which is centered around antagonist, Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel is broken into three parts all told through the eyes of a middle-aged Pi Patel: Pi’s childhood, Pi’s experience in the open sea, and Pi’s conversation with Japanese officials.

 

Source: http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/first-image-from-ang-lees-life-of-pi-surfaces-featuring-a-tiger-a-boat-and-a-boy

I love this book because all the events throughout the story, set in 1977, are so unbelievable that you can’t help but want to believe them. The story-telling is so fantastic that even in the face of doubt you trust his story. I feel what Pi feels, see what Pi sees, smell what Pi smells, and I believe it to be true.

In a question and answer session with Yann Martel, he says that he loves the idea of the name Pi as a nickname for Piscine. Pi tells us the story of his name: his uncle was a lover of swimming and talked of the pools in France, one called “Piscine Molitar“. Martel says, “I liked the irony of a boy named after a rational volume of water being adrift in an uncontrollable volume of water, the Pacific.” Pi spends years of his childhood teased about this name, (sounds like “pissing”) so that when he switches schools he decides to call himself Pi, after the Greek letter used by mathematicians to stand in for an irrational number. Martel says it stuck him that a number used to bring understanding could be called irrational, which is how he sees religion as well: something irrational that helps make sense of things.

Pi was born Hindu, but at 14 he was introduced to Christianity and Islam. He follows all three of these religions because he just “wants to love God.” Pi is searching for meaning in the world and he looks through the lenses of these three religions to help him find perspective on this journey. He sees a portion of truth and a portion of error with each religion but all have similar messages for him.

Pi’s father owns a zoo in Pondicerry, which has provided Pi with a gateway into animal psychology during his youth. When his family decides to sell their animals and move to Canada due to political concerns in India, they board a small Japanese freighter carrying some of their animals. So begins part two of the story.

A few days after leaving India the ship sinks. Pi ends up in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, A spotted hyena, an injured zebra and an orangutan: the only survivors.

During the first few days of Pi’s voyage in open seas he witnesses heinous violence from the hyena, which eats the still living zebra bit-by-bit. The hyena also kills the orangutan in a vicious manner. Then Richard Parker kills the hyena, leaving Pi alone with a 400-pound tiger.

Pi finds food, water and supplies in the lifeboat; steadily the supplies run out and he begins fishing. Pi feeds himself and Richard Parker, he wants to keep Richard Parker alive to avoid complete solitude, but he also know that he cannot outlast Richard Parker and he wants to avoid being eaten. Pi refers to his knowledge of animal psychology and decides he must make sure Richard Parker knows that Pi is the alpha and Richard Parker the omega animal, this way he can keep his territory and hopefully stay alive. He goes through many training sessions with Richard Parker using a whistle, treats, and seasickness to drive the point home.

The story gets very bleak when both Pi and Richard Parker become blind. I believe this was due to bad nutrition and excessive exposure to sun. During his blindness Pi encounters another blind seafarer, a French man with an obsession for meat. Pi naïvely welcomes the man into his boat where the man reveals his cannibalistic nature and becomes a snack for dear old Richard Parker. Two days, and much rinsing with salt water, bring back Pi’s sight.

Then comes the strangest part yet. The pair encounter a mysterious island, seemingly constructed of edible algae supporting a forest and a large population of meercats. Each day Richard Parker and Pi venture onto the island and each night they return to their lifeboat. One night Pi decides to stay on the island at night and sleeps in a tree, which is quickly over run by meercats who also sleep in the trees. When Pi discovers a “fruit” in the tree with a single human molar at the center he discovers the carnivorous nature of the algae and becomes frightened of it. Richard Parker and Pi return to their lifeboat and continue on their way.

Finally the lifeboat reaches the coast of Mexico where Richard Parker escapes into the jungle without so much as a goodbye. Pi is disappointed by this unceremonious departure but is quickly found by his rescuers.

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

*****Read on at your own risk*****

***You’ve been warned!***

Part three of the story is written like a transcript of an interview (because that is what it is). Two official from the Japanese maritime department question Pi about the sinking of the ship. Pi tells them his story, which they do not believe. In hopes of having his suffering validated, he tells them a second story without the animals. He recounts a story of human brutality, being adrift on a lifeboat with his mother, a sailor with a broken leg, and the ship’s French cook, who killed the sailor and Pi’s mother and cut them up to use as bait and food. Parallels to Pi’s first story lead the Japanese officials to believe that the orangutan represents his mother, the zebra represents the sailor, the hyena represents the cook, and Richard Parker is Pi himself.

After revealing that neither version of Pi’s story ascertains why the ship sank, and that no one can really know the truth, Pi asks which version the officers prefer. They both prefer the version with the animals to the version without animals. Pi thanks them and says, “and so it goes with God.”

Martel shares that he wrote the story to become more and more unbelievable as it goes on. He says that he understands readers will have doubts but hopes they will choose the first story as the better story. For that reason he included something unbelievable in the story we choose to believe.

To me it is interesting that Martel included a cannibalistic Frenchman in both versions of the story. If you interpret his appearance in the first story, when Pi is blind, he might appear to be a ghost of the French cook Pi killed in the second story. Just a thought.

Have you read Life of Pi? What are your interpretations? 

Life of Pi

I’ve never been shipwrecked, or out at sea for that matter. But author Yann Matel has written a story that made me experience the hunger, and the thirst, the cold, and the heat, the dryness, and the wetness, the fear, and the joy, the disgust, and the beauty of being lost at sea in his novel Life of Pi. The story, which is centered around antagonist, Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel is broken into three parts all told through the eyes of a middle-aged Pi Patel: Pi’s childhood, Pi’s experience in the open sea, and Pi’s conversation with Japanese officials.

Source: http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/first-image-from-ang-lees-life-of-pi-surfaces-featuring-a-tiger-a-boat-and-a-boy

I love this book because all the events throughout the story, set in 1977, are so unbelievable that you can’t help but want to believe them. The story-telling is so fantastic that even in the face of doubt you trust his story. I feel what Pi feels, see what Pi sees, smell what Pi smells, and I believe it to be true.

In a question and answer session with Yann Martel, he says that he loves the idea of the name Pi as a nickname for Piscine. Pi tells us the story of his name: his uncle was a lover of swimming and talked of the pools in France, one called “Piscine Molitar“. Martel says, “I liked the irony of a boy named after a rational volume of water being adrift in an uncontrollable volume of water, the Pacific.” Pi spends years of his childhood teased about this name, (sounds like “pissing”) so that when he switches schools he decides to call himself Pi, after the Greek letter used by mathematicians to stand in for an irrational number. Martel says it stuck him that a number used to bring understanding could be called irrational, which is how he sees religion as well: something irrational that helps make sense of things.

Pi was born Hindu, but at 14 he was introduced to Christianity and Islam. He follows all three of these religions because he just “wants to love God.” Pi is searching for meaning in the world and he looks through the lenses of these three religions to help him find perspective on this journey. He sees a portion of truth and a portion of error with each religion but all have similar messages for him.

Pi’s father owns a zoo in Pondicerry, which has provided Pi with a gateway into animal psychology during his youth. When his family decides to sell their animals and move to Canada due to political concerns in India, they board a small Japanese freighter carrying some of their animals. So begins part two of the story.

A few days after leaving India the ship sinks. Pi ends up in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, A spotted hyena, an injured zebra and an orangutan: the only survivors.

During the first few days of Pi’s voyage in open seas he witnesses heinous violence from the hyena, which eats the still living zebra bit-by-bit. The hyena also kills the orangutan in a vicious manner. Then Richard Parker kills the hyena, leaving Pi alone with a 400-pound tiger.

Pi finds food, water and supplies in the lifeboat; steadily the supplies run out and he begins fishing. Pi feeds himself and Richard Parker, he wants to keep Richard Parker alive to avoid complete solitude, but he also know that he cannot outlast Richard Parker and he wants to avoid being eaten. Pi refers to his knowledge of animal psychology and decides he must make sure Richard Parker knows that Pi is the alpha and Richard Parker the omega animal, this way he can keep his territory and hopefully stay alive. He goes through many training sessions with Richard Parker using a whistle, treats, and seasickness to drive the point home.

The story gets very bleak when both Pi and Richard Parker become blind. I believe this was due to bad nutrition and excessive exposure to sun. During his blindness Pi encounters another blind seafarer, a French man with an obsession for meat. Pi naïvely welcomes the man into his boat where the man reveals his cannibalistic nature and becomes a snack for dear old Richard Parker. Two days, and much rinsing with salt water, bring back Pi’s sight.

Then comes the strangest part yet. The pair encounter a mysterious island, seemingly constructed of edible algae supporting a forest and a large population of meercats. Each day Richard Parker and Pi venture onto the island and each night they return to their lifeboat. One night Pi decides to stay on the island at night and sleeps in a tree, which is quickly over run by meercats who also sleep in the trees. When Pi discovers a “fruit” in the tree with a single human molar at the center he discovers the carnivorous nature of the algae and becomes frightened of it. Richard Parker and Pi return to their lifeboat and continue on their way.

Finally the lifeboat reaches the coast of Mexico where Richard Parker escapes into the jungle without so much as a goodbye. Pi is disappointed by this unceremonious departure but is quickly found by his rescuers.

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

*****Read on at your own risk*****

***You’ve been warned!***

Part three of the story is written like a transcript of an interview (because that is what it is). Two official from the Japanese maritime department question Pi about the sinking of the ship. Pi tells them his story, which they do not believe. In hopes of having his suffering validated, he tells them a second story without the animals. He recounts a story of human brutality, being adrift on a lifeboat with his mother, a sailor with a broken leg, and the ship’s French cook, who killed the sailor and Pi’s mother and cut them up to use as bait and food. Parallels to Pi’s first story lead the Japanese officials to believe that the orangutan represents his mother, the zebra represents the sailor, the hyena represents the cook, and Richard Parker is Pi himself.

After revealing that neither version of Pi’s story ascertains why the ship sank, and that no one can really know the truth, Pi asks which version the officers prefer. They both prefer the version with the animals to the version without animals. Pi thanks them and says, “and so it goes with God.”

Martel shares that he wrote the story to become more and more unbelievable as it goes on. He says that he understands readers will have doubts but hopes they will choose the first story as the better story. For that reason he included something unbelievable in the story we choose to believe.

To me it is interesting that Martel included a cannibalistic Frenchman in both versions of the story. If you interpret his appearance in the first story, when Pi is blind, he might appear to be a ghost of the French cook Pi killed in the second story. Just a thought.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Have you read Life of Pi? What are your interpretations? 

1-Hour Total Body Workout

I am not one of those people who really love to work out. I wish I were, because my life would be so much easier if I didn’t have to force myself to do things to keep in shape. I do what I have to in order to keep active but mostly I enjoy activities that are exercise plus something else, like yoga for relaxation and stretching, riding a bike to a friends house, walking the long way to the grocery store, hiking and backpacking, or running to the ice cream shop.  These activities have another purpose, and yet I still get some exercise out of it. I do have a few workout plans that I like to fit each in once a week (5-4-3-2-1 workout for one) and this one.

I developed this plan for myself based on some Women’s Health Magazine workouts and an app I have for my Kindle Fire (as well as from my limited knowledge of what a good workout is). It takes an hour as is, but can easily be cut down to 45, 30 or even 15 minutes just by cutting out reps.

 

1-Hour Total Body Workout

For a printable version click the link below
1-Hour Total Body Workout

Check out my workout terms glossary. These terms are used in this workout:

Butt Kickers

Start in a standing position. Start jogging in place kicking your foot as close to your butt as you can with each step.

Clamshell

Lay on your side with both knees bent at 90 degrees. Keeping your knee bent and feet together, hinge your top leg open. Lower your knee back to starting for one rep.

Crescent Lunge with Row

Stand in crescent lunge position, one foot a large step in from of the other, the front foot flat against the floor and the knee bent 90 degrees and the back foot on tip-toes with the leg straight. Lean your chest forward slightly and with a weight in both hand, palms facing in, pull the weight straight up, elbows bending behind your body.

Dog Lifts

Start in a tabletop position, hands directly below the shoulder and knees directly below the hips, tops of feet against the floor. Keeping your right knee bent lift it from the ground up to the side until it is parallel with the floor. Slowly lower it to hover above the floor. That’s one rep, do all reps then repeat on the opposite leg.

Donkey Kicks

Start in a tabletop position, hands directly below the shoulder and knees directly below the hips, tops of feet against the floor. Keeping your knee bent lift your right foot up toward the sky, lower it back to hover over the floor with control. That’s one rep, do all reps then switch legs.

Flutter

Lay flat on your stomach. Lift your legs and arms from the mat, keep your forehead against the floor. Quickly alternate lifting your right arm with your left leg, then your left arm with your right leg.

Froggy Lifts

Lay face down on your mat with your forehead to the floor. Bend your knees to 90 degrees and flex your feet. Turn your toes out slightly keeping your heels together, lift your feet straight up removing your knees from the mat.

Hamstring Curl

Lay flat on you stomach, prop your upper body up onto your forearms. Attach ankle weights to your ankles or hold a hand weight between your feet. Slowly bend your knees, lifting the weight into the air. Carefully lower the weight toward the floor, hover above the floor, for one rep.

Hip Bridge

Lay on your back with arms by your side and feet flat against the floor, hip-width distance apart. Lift your hips from the mat until your body forms a straight line from shoulder to knee.

Inner Thigh Raise

Lying on your side pull your top leg forward into a 90-degree angle with knee resting on the floor. Lift the bottom leg a couple of inches and then lower it back to hover just above the floor. That’s one rep.

Jog-in-place

Pretty self explanatory, jog… but do it in place.

Jumping Jacks

Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

Knee Ups

Start standing and begin jogging in place lifting your knees as high as possible.

Leg Extension

Lie on back with knees bent. Rest your arms on the floor at should level, with palms facing up. As you lift your hips from the form to form a straight line from shoulders to hips, extend on leg in the air. Hold, then lower foot flat to floor and switch to the opposite leg.

Leg Raise

Lay down on your side, hip on the floor, and prop yourself up on your forearm. Lift your top leg straight up into the air. Lower it back down without touching your bottom leg. Repeat.

Plank

Set-up the top of a push-up position with your hands directly below your shoulder. A variation of this is to rest on your forearms with elbows directly beneath shoulders. Hold your body completely straight by engaging your abs. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: don’t drop your hips or raise your butt.

Quad Lift

Sit with leg straight out in front of you, back straight. Place your hand on either side of your hips. Keeping your leg straight lift your right leg, lower it back to the floor, then lift your left leg, lower it. That’s one rep.

Shoulder Press

Hold a weight in each hand above your shoulders, next to your ears. With palms facing in life the weights straight up until your arms are straight directly over your shoulders. release to starting position.

Side Kick

Start in a tabletop position, hands directly below the shoulder and knees directly below the hips, tops of feet against the floor. Lift your right leg so it is extended straight back from your body. Slowly bring it around so that it is perpendicular to your body and parallel to the floor. Return it to straight behind you for one rep. Do reps then repeat on opposite leg.

Side Plank

Lie on your side with your legs straight. Prop yourself up with your hand directly below your shoulder (or on your forearm with your elbow directly below your shoulder). Your body should form a diagonal line with your feet stacked on top of each other. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: be sure your hips and knees stay of the floor.

Ski Hops

Starting in a standing position with knees slightly bent and chest forward, quickly jump from side to side over an imaginary line. Land each time with feet hip-width distance apart. When you land where you began (2 jumps) that’s one rep.

Squat

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Immediately rise out of squat, returning to standing with arms by side.

Static Lunge

Begin with right leg one large step in front of the left leg. Lower your body until both knees from a 90-degree angle. Don’t touch your back knee to the ground. Lift yourself out of the lunge. Do reps then switch to left leg.

 

Triangle Pushup

Do a pushup but instead of placing hand outside of your body, move them in under your chest with index finger and thumb touching to form a triangle.

Tricep Dip

Find an elevated surface such as a step, a coffee table over a chair. Place your palms on the surface directly behind your body. Hold yourself up and gently lower yourself down using your arms. When your arms make a 90-degree angle behind you lift yourself back up to the starting position.

Tricep Extension

Hold one 10- to 15- pound weight in both hands. Place it behind your head and with control lift it over your head.

V-Lift

Hold a weight in each hand, arms at your side with palms facing in. Lift with straight arms and open them into a v-shape until arms are parallel with the floor.  Hold then carefully release to starting position.

Whether you enjoy working out or not, how do you keep in shape? Try the workout, tell me what you think; I appreciate constructive criticism.

1-Hour Total Body Workout

I am not one of those people who really love to work out. I wish I were, because my life would be so much easier if I didn’t have to force myself to do things to keep in shape. I do what I have to in order to keep active but mostly I enjoy activities that are exercise plus something else, like yoga for relaxation and stretching, riding a bike to a friends house, walking the long way to the grocery store, hiking and backpacking, or running to the ice cream shop.  These activities have another purpose, and yet I still get some exercise out of it. I do have a few workout plans that I like to fit each in once a week (5-4-3-2-1 workout for one) and this one.

I developed this plan for myself based on some Women’s Health Magazine workouts and an app I have for my Kindle Fire (as well as from my limited knowledge of what a good workout is). It takes an hour as is, but can easily be cut down to 45, 30 or even 15 minutes just by cutting out reps.

1-Hour Total Body Workout

For a printable version click the link below
1-Hour Total Body Workout

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Whether you enjoy working out or not, how do you keep in shape? Try the workout, tell me what you think; I appreciate constructive criticism.

Small Space Gardening on a Budget

My Grandpa bought me a book called In a Japanese Garden by Charmaine Aserappa with original woodcuts by Akiko Maomura for my birthday. It is full of short phrases about each component of a Japanese garden and a corresponding image (woodcut).  At the end there is a description of Japanese gardens and what they mean, “not merely decorative, but meticulously designed and maintained as meditative spaces for contemplation, refreshment and reflection.” I hope I can find both refreshment and order in my garden space.

If you’ve read my other posts you may know that this summer my biggest project has been my balcony garden. It all began with the Hanging Gutter Garden Part 1 and Part 2. While the gutter garden was certainly the most intensive of my projects this summer, it was not the only one.  You may remember this flower tower mentioned in this post; let me tell you how I made my version.

My Version

Materials:

• Decreasing sizes of pots – you can use any number of pots I used four (they should have holes in the bottom).  I got the three terra cotta pots from Michael’s for fairly cheap (sale + coupons) and the big plastic pot from WalMart for about $7 bucks and I didn’t need to buy a water collection dish because it has it’s own draining mechanism built it.
• Long metal rod – I used one of those threaded rods they have at Home Depot. I will be the first to admit that I have no idea what it’s actually for but it was cheaper than buying rebar (and I didn’t have to cut it).
• Plants – I lucked out because the King Soopers had a big sale on flowers (10 4-packs for $10) I also bought the potato vines for about $2.50 because I love the way they look. Any annuals will do, you could even plant edible plants or herbs.
• Soil – I used some with water beads since it’s been so dry, but any kind will do.

You start by filling the base pot half-full with soil. Stick the rod in the center, slide the next pot down the rod.  Fill that pot halfway with soil and repeat the process with the remaining pots. If the rod sticks out the top, simply add more soil between pots. Then plant your flowers or what have you as you normally would. Simple right?

“Be the bud. Prepare to blossom.”

The remaining flowers are planted in flowerpots around the railings.

“Be the gardener. Create order.”

I also mentioned that I wanted to plant tomatoes and peppers in pots. I used water walls to increase their growing season. Here are my results.

I used fallen branches as support (free vs. not free… I choose free)

This is the third ripe tomato so far

My First Pepper

My strawberry plant is in a hanging basket. It’s been doing well, only the birds keep getting the fruit before I do. I would mind more if they weren’t so dang cute and didn’t sing such pretty songs to me while I drink my tea in the morning.

I also ended up planting peas from seed using this tutorial. They started out growing like mad; I harvested two bowls of peas in their peak. However, it turns out container gardening is quite difficult.  I think I over-watered them causing their roots to run out of oxygen and rot, finally they started dying off. I’m too embarrassed to share the picture. On the bright side there is some re-growth now that the soil has dried out a bit.

The final addition to my farm was sort of last minute. I had an extra pot and some carrot seeds so I planted them in the pot. I’ve never heard of this being done and this is crazy (but here’s my number, so call me maybe). Anyway we’ll see how it turns out; all I have at the moment is greens. I did a thinning last week so hopefully the carrots start being carrots.

My watering can is in the front (isn’t it cute?). The carrots are in the terra cotta pot just behind the watering can.

As for this project, I couldn’t figure out a way to stabilize it. I think the best way would be to drive the rebar deep into the ground.  Well I don’t have ground, I have concrete and a wooden railing.  I scratched that project but my grandmother found these cute colorful pots at the dollar store.  She bought a bunch and I am using them for herbs (I realize now this is better because I can bring them inside this winter). P.S. Notice the tomato on the window sill through the window. 🙂

“Be the seasons. Welcome change.”
From left to right: dill, cilantro (used to be cilantro), spearmint, lemon balm, oregano, basil, spring onions
They sit on my air conditioner

Rosemary Bush

I wanted a way to enjoy my space so I have been keeping my eyes open for a small-ish patio set.  This bistro set caught my eye at Home Depot. At that point I told my parents about it and guess what I got for my birthday? Well see for yourself.

It didn’t come with the cushions, those were a separate gift from my grandparents

You can see the grill in the background; Reid has wanted a grill since, as long as I’ve known him (and we just celebrated our 3 year anniversary last week). We found this charcoal grill at a flea market in south (SOUTH) Fort Collins for $12.  One night he was grilling as the sun was setting and it started getting too dark for him to see. He used his camping headlamp that night but the next day he went out and got a strand of lights to hang from the ceiling. Now it feels like an outdoor café.

“Be the moth. Seek the light.
Be the lantern. Guide the lost.”

We also found two wind chimes (and I made a third)

“Be the wind chime. Let the breeze blow through you. Turn the storms into song.”

Now that all the hard work is done I have had the chance to relax in and enjoy the space. We eat dinner at our café, I read books in the morning with my breakfast and tea, and I tend and water the plants (the best part of container gardening is that there are no weeds, only insect pests). Though it took most of my savings to set it up I have no regrets about the rewarding outcome. My first real experience with gardening has overall been successful, maybe not bountiful, but successful none-the-less.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Leave a comment; I need all the advice I can get. What are your best gardening tips?

Small Space Gardening on a Budget

My Grandpa bought me a book called In a Japanese Garden by Charmaine Aserappa with original woodcuts by Akiko Maomura for my birthday. It is full of short phrases about each component of a Japanese garden and a corresponding image (woodcut).  At the end there is a description of Japanese gardens and what they mean, “not merely decorative, but meticulously designed and maintained as meditative spaces for contemplation, refreshment and reflection.” I hope I can find both refreshment and order in my garden space.

If you’ve read my other posts you may know that this summer my biggest project has been my balcony garden. It all began with the Hanging Gutter Garden Part 1 and Part 2. While the gutter garden was certainly the most intensive of my projects this summer, it was not the only one.  You may remember this flower tower mentioned in this post; let me tell you how I made my version.

My Version

Materials:

• Decreasing sizes of pots – you can use any number of pots I used four (they should have holes in the bottom).  I got the three terra cotta pots from Michael’s for fairly cheap (sale + coupons) and the big plastic pot from WalMart for about $7 bucks and I didn’t need to buy a water collection dish because it has it’s own draining mechanism built it.
• Long metal rod – I used one of those threaded rods they have at Home Depot. I will be the first to admit that I have no idea what it’s actually for but it was cheaper than buying rebar (and I didn’t have to cut it).
• Plants – I lucked out because the King Soopers had a big sale on flowers (10 4-packs for $10) I also bought the potato vines for about $2.50 because I love the way they look. Any annuals will do, you could even plant edible plants or herbs.
• Soil – I used some with water beads since it’s been so dry, but any kind will do.

You start by filling the base pot half-full with soil. Stick the rod in the center, slide the next pot down the rod.  Fill that pot halfway with soil and repeat the process with the remaining pots. If the rod sticks out the top, simply add more soil between pots. Then plant your flowers or what have you as you normally would. Simple right?

“Be the bud. Prepare to blossom.”

The remaining flowers are planted in flowerpots around the railings.

“Be the gardener. Create order.”

I also mentioned that I wanted to plant tomatoes and peppers in pots. I used water walls to increase their growing season. Here are my results.

I used fallen branches as support (free vs. not free… I choose free)

This is the third ripe tomato so far.

My First Pepper

My strawberry plant is in a hanging basket. It’s been doing well, only the birds keep getting the fruit before I do. I would mind more if they weren’t so dang cute and didn’t sing such pretty songs to me while I drink my tea in the morning.

I also ended up planting peas from seed using this tutorial. They started out growing like mad; I harvested two bowls of peas in their peak. However, it turns out container gardening is quite difficult.  I think I over-watered them causing their roots to run out of oxygen and rot, finally they started dying off. I’m too embarrassed to share the picture. On the bright side there is some re-growth now that the soil has dried out a bit.

The final addition to my farm was sort of last minute. I had an extra pot and some carrot seeds so I planted them in the pot. I’ve never heard of this being done and this is crazy (but here’s my number, so call me maybe). Anyway we’ll see how it turns out; all I have at the moment is greens. I did a thinning last week so hopefully the carrots start being carrots.

My watering can is in the front (isn’t it cute?). The carrots are in the terra cotta pot just behind the watering can.

As for this project, I couldn’t figure out a way to stabilize it. I think the best way would be to drive the rebar deep into the ground.  Well I don’t have ground, I have concrete and a wooden railing.  I scratched that project but my grandmother found these cute colorful pots at the dollar store.  She bought a bunch and I am using them for herbs (I realize now this is better because I can bring them inside this winter). P.S. Notice the tomato on the window sill through the window. 🙂

 

From left to right: dill, cilantro (used to be cilantro), spearmint, lemon balm, oregano, basil, spring onions

They sit on my air conditioner

“Be the seasons. Welcome change.”

Rosemary Bush

I wanted a way to enjoy my space so I have been keeping my eyes open for a small-ish patio set.  This bistro set caught my eye at Home Depot. At that point I told my parents about it and guess what I got for my birthday? Well see for yourself.

It didn’t come with the cushions, those were a separate gift from my grandparents.

You can see the grill in the background; Reid has wanted a grill since, as long as I’ve known him (and we just celebrated our 3 year anniversary last week). We found this charcoal grill at a flea market in south (SOUTH) Fort Collins for $12.  One night he was grilling as the sun was setting and it started getting too dark for him to see. He used his camping headlamp that night but the next day he went out and got a strand of lights to hang from the ceiling. Now it feels like an outdoor café.

“Be the moth. Seek the light.
Be the lantern. Guide the lost.”

We also found two wind chimes (and I made a third)

“Be the wind chime. Let the breeze blow through you. Turn the storms into song.”

Now that all the hard work is done I have had the chance to relax in and enjoy the space. We eat dinner at our café, I read books in the morning with my breakfast and tea, and I tend and water the plants (the best part of container gardening is that there are no weeds, only insect pests). Though it took most of my savings to set it up I have no regrets about the rewarding outcome. My first real experience with gardening has overall been successful, maybe not bountiful, but successful none-the-less.

Leave a comment; I need all the advice I can get. What are your best gardening tips?

15 Things I Learned From Harry Potter

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling has been a big part of my life ever since I read the first books in third grade. I have devoured the series more times than I can count, soaked in the movies (which I love however disappointed I was in most of them), and researched every drop of information I can sponge up. You can imagine that something that I can still honestly say I adore, more than 13 years later must have given something to my soul. Harry, Ron and Hermione are my family, Dumbledore, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Snape, McGonagall, Hagrid, Dobby, Fang, Sirius, Lupin, Fred, George, Seamus, Dean, Lavender, Parvati, Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fleur, Victor, Lee, Cedric, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Angelina, Katie, Alicia, etc. etc. etc. They’re all are my friends. They will live in my heart. After all this time. Always.

So the list begins…

1. Don’t Fear the Reaper

Death is a theme, particularly emphasized in the Harry Potter books. Harry, who was orphaned as a baby, has led a life that has been considerably influenced by Death. Gradually as Harry grows and evolves into a man his journey takes him to a place where death is not something to be feared. After all, a fear of death is what led to the Hogwarts ghosts, something Harry realizes when Sirius Black dies.

 

Source: Book Chapter Art

In the great words of Albus Dumbledore, two quotes:
“To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.”

2. Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

Severus Snape, the Potions Master at Hogwarts is the best example of this; he is presented as the sneering, bullying villain with a vendetta against Harry. When his motivations are revealed in the Deathly Hallows we learn that his actions were born out of love rather than hate (or mostly love).

Source: http://snapeandlily.tumblr.com/page/13

Dumbledore: “After all this time?” (Referring to his love for Lily Evans, later Lily Potter)
“Always.” said Snape.

3. Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

After six books of bickering, pining, sulking and pretending to be indifferent toward each other, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger finally share a passionate kiss in the Deathly Hallows.

 

Source: http://hpcompanion.com/dh/dh31/

There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione’s arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.
“Is this the moment?” Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. “OI! There’s a war going on here!”
Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other.
“I know, mate,” said Ron… “so it’s now or never, isn’t it?”

4. Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own

Harry, throughout the series, continually feels (sometimes aggravatingly) that he must face his destiny alone, only to have his friends prove invaluable. In the Sorceror’s Stone, Ron and Hermione use their respective abilities of chess-playing and logic to help Harry through to the stone. And how can we forget Ron and Hermione’s defiance about helping Harry collect and destroy Horcruxes?

 

Source: Book Chapter Art

“We’ll be there, Harry,” said Ron…
“No—“ said Harry quickly…he was undertaking this dangerous journey alone.
“You said to us once before,” said Hermione quietly, “that there was a time to turn back if we wanted to. We’ve had time, haven’t we?”
“We’re with you whatever happens,” said Ron.

5. Decisions, Decisions

Harry and Tom Riddle, both extraordinarily proficient wizards, led different lives not based on their skills but rather on the various choices they made along the way. Harry makes the choice to become a Gryffindor (rather than a Slytherin) when he puts on the sorting hat because he trusts his new friendship with Ron. Tom uses the Slytherin house, his irresistible charm, and his desire for power, which led him down a dark path.

 

Source: Book Chapter Art

Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin.
“Not Slytherin, eh?” said the small voice. “Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it’s all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that— no? Well if you’re sure—better be GRYFFINDOR!”
Also a quote from Dumbledore: “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

6. The Power of Love

His inability either to love or to fathom its power is what prevents Voldemort from killing Harry from the beginning. Harry’s father, James, died in a fight while his mother, Lily, died protecting baby Harry.

 

Source: http://iitsyi.deviantart.com/art/Lily-and-baby-Harry-HP-24772517

Yet another quote from our favorite wizard, Dumbledore: “If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark.”

7. The Easy Way Out

Choices are an integral part of any good story. In Harry Potter we find that the more difficult choice are inevitably the right choice, which must be made. Voldemort’s rise to power is the result of those facing him choosing the easy option (to live under his rule, rather than fight or perish). Cornelius Fudge’s refusal to admit the return of Voldemort was easier than preparing for the first stages of war.

 

Source: http://www.mugglenet.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2188&pos=19/

Another wise Dumbledore quote “We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”

8. Hell Hath No Fury, Like a Woman Scorned

This is made perfectly evident by the reaction Hermione has to Lavender Brown and Ron’s (short-lived) romance.

 

Source: http://hpcompanion.com/hbp/hbp14/

The door behind them burst open. To Harry’s horror, Ron came in, laughing, pulling Lavender by the hand…
“Oops!” said Lavender, and she backed out of the room, giggling…
Hermione slid off the desk. The little flock of golden birds continued to twitter in circles around her head…
“You shouldn’t leave Lavender waiting outside,” she said quietly…
She walked very slowly and erectly toward the door. Harry glanced at Ron who looked relieved that nothing worse had happened.
“Oppugno!” came a shriek from the doorway.
Harry spun around to see Hermione pointing her wand at Ron, her expression wild: The little flock of bird speeding like a hail of fat golden bullets toward Ron, who yelped and covered his face with his hands, but the birds attacked, pecking and clawing at every bit of flesh they could reach.

9. Heart’s Desire

The Mirror of Erised shows those who look upon it the “deepest and most desperate desires of one’s heart. It is presented as a device with a destructive, almost maddening influence on the beholder. While when Harry’s sees his parents at first it is a comfort to him, he begins to become obsessed with the mirror, until Dumbledore is forced to step in.

 

Source: http://www.mugglenet.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2188&pos=3

One more quote from Dumbledore, that sage old wizard: “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember, that.”

10. Money Can’t Buy Me Love

The Weasley family has hardly two knuts to rub together, and yet Rowling presents them as the happiest and most loving of all her characters. The Malfoys on the other hand are rolling in galleons, and yet they spend much of the saga wracked with guilt, worry and anxiety.

Source: http://www.myspace.com/weasleyfamily

“…my name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.”
Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him.
“Think my name’s funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford.”

11. Fear Can Be Conquered

During Remus Lupin’s time as Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, he explains that the reason Harry suffers so much in the presence of the Dementors is because of his fear of fear. In time, Harry masters his fear, and the art of the Patronus charm, using focus and determination (and a memory he isn’t even sure is real).

 

Source: http://www.mugglenet.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2188&pos=8

“I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort.”
Harry stared…
“Clearly, I was wrong,” said Lupin, still frowning at Harry. “But I didn’t think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialise in the staff room. I imagined that people would panic.”
“I did think of Voldemort first,” said Harry honestly. “But then I – I remembered those Dementors.”
“I see,” said Lupin thoughtfully. “Well, well… I’m impressed.” He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry’s face. “That suggests that what you fear most of all is – fear. Very wise, Harry.”

12. Protect the Nest

Even with her evil reputation, Bellatrix Lestrange makes a critical error when she threatens to kill Ginny Weasley. Molly Weasley might have seen one child die at the battle of Hogwarts, but when threatened again she proves that she won’t let ANYONE repeat that trick.

 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-Harry-Potter-Fight-Ever-Molly-Weasley-and-Bellatrix-Lestrange/202493403132080

“NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!”…”OUT OF MY WAY!” Shouted Mrs. Weasley… “No!!” Mrs. Weasley cried as a few students ran forward, trying to come to her aid. “Get back! Get back! She is mine!”
“What will happen to your children when I’ve killed you?” taunted Bellatrix… capering as Molly’s curses danced around her. “When Mummy’s gone the same way as Freddie?”
“You — will — never — touch — our — children — again!” screamed Mrs. Weasley…
Molly’s curse soared beneath Bellatrix’s outstretched arm and hit her squarely in the chest, directly over her heart… and then she toppled…

13. Diversity is Might

Where Voldemort might tell you “Magic is Might,” I say “Diversity is Might.” Throughout the saga, Harry finds himself befriending society’s outcasts, again and again. There’s Rubeus Hagrid the half-giant, Dobby a house-elf, Firenze a centaur, and “Loony” Luna Lovegood who lives by her own rules. Even Griphook, a goblin who might not be considered a friend, helps Harry because of his reputation for loving all beings. These are the characters who often dig Harry and his friends out of the tightest situations.

 

Source: Book Chapter Art

“You dirty little monkey!” bawled Bellatrix. “How dare you take a witch’s wand, how dare you defy your masters?”
“Dobby has no master!” squealed the elf. “Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!”

14. Treat All With Kindness

Along the same lines as number thirteen, Harry treated every being he met with the same kindness no matter their social standing, when they deserved it. (Dolores Umbridge, and Draco Malfoy are notable exceptions, also, Voldemort, of course). Kreacher, the Black family house elf, helps Harry because Harry was kind to him, Sirius’s mistreatment of Kreacher led ultimately to his death.

 

Source: Book Chapter Art

“I warned Sirius when we adopted twelve Grimmauld Place as our headquarters that Kreacher must be treated with kindness and respect. I also told him that Kreacher could be dangerous to us. I do not think that Sirius took me very seriously, or that he ever saw Kreacher as a being with feelings as acute as a human’s.” (One last Dumbledore quote)

15. When You Believe

Self-confidence is presented as a key component in magical prophecy. We watch Neville Longbottom’s journey from the very first book, in which he is a hopeless wizard due to low self-esteem brought on from his grandmother. As he grows older and begins to be self-assured he matures into one of the most important figures in the story.

 

Couldn’t resist using this photo 😉

Source: http://leverredelamode.tumblr.com/

Voldemort: “You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom.”
“I’ll join you when hell freezes over,” said Neville. “Dumbledore’s Army!” he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd…

Adapted from 50 Things We Learned From Harry Potter by Total Film

My favorite Harry Potter sites:

• Muggle Net
• PotterMore
• Harry Potter Wiki

How has Harry Potter changed your life? What themes that I didn’t share are important to you?

15 Things I Learned From Harry Potter

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling has been a big part of my life ever since I read the first books in third grade. I have devoured the series more times than I can count, soaked in the movies (which I love however disappointed I was in most of them), and researched every drop of information I can sponge up. You can imagine that something that I can still honestly say I adore, more than 13 years later must have given something to my soul. Harry, Ron and Hermione are my family, Dumbledore, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Snape, McGonagall, Hagrid, Dobby, Fang, Sirius, Lupin, Fred, George, Seamus, Dean, Lavender, Parvati, Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fleur, Victor, Lee, Cedric, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Angelina, Katie, Alicia, etc. etc. etc. They’re all are my friends. They will live in my heart. After all this time. Always.

So the list begins…

1. Don’t Fear the Reaper

Death is a theme, particularly emphasized in the Harry Potter books. Harry, who was orphaned as a baby, has led a life that has been considerably influenced by Death. Gradually as Harry grows and evolves into a man his journey takes him to a place where death is not something to be feared. After all, a fear of death is what led to the Hogwarts ghosts, something Harry realizes when Sirius Black dies.

Source: Book Chapter Art

In the great words of Albus Dumbledore, two quotes:
“To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.”

2. Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

Severus Snape, the Potions Master at Hogwarts is the best example of this; he is presented as the sneering, bullying villain with a vendetta against Harry. When his motivations are revealed in the Deathly Hallows we learn that his actions were born out of love rather than hate (or mostly love).

Source: http://snapeandlily.tumblr.com/page/13

Dumbledore: “After all this time?” (Referring to his love for Lily Evans, later Lily Potter)
“Always.” said Snape.

3. Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

After six books of bickering, pining, sulking and pretending to be indifferent toward each other, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger finally share a passionate kiss in the Deathly Hallows.

Source: http://hpcompanion.com/dh/dh31/

There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione’s arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.
“Is this the moment?” Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. “OI! There’s a war going on here!”
Ron and Hermione broke apart, their arms still around each other.
“I know, mate,” said Ron… “so it’s now or never, isn’t it?”

4. Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own

Harry, throughout the series, continually feels (sometimes aggravatingly) that he must face his destiny alone, only to have his friends prove invaluable. In the Sorceror’s Stone, Ron and Hermione use their respective abilities of chess-playing and logic to help Harry through to the stone. And how can we forget Ron and Hermione’s defiance about helping Harry collect and destroy Horcruxes?

Source: Book Chapter Art

“We’ll be there, Harry,” said Ron…
“No—“ said Harry quickly…he was undertaking this dangerous journey alone.
“You said to us once before,” said Hermione quietly, “that there was a time to turn back if we wanted to. We’ve had time, haven’t we?”
“We’re with you whatever happens,” said Ron.

5. Decisions, Decisions

Harry and Tom Riddle, both extraordinarily proficient wizards, led different lives not based on their skills but rather on the various choices they made along the way. Harry makes the choice to become a Gryffindor (rather than a Slytherin) when he puts on the sorting hat because he trusts his new friendship with Ron. Tom uses the Slytherin house, his irresistible charm, and his desire for power, which led him down a dark path.

Source: Book Chapter Art

Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin.
“Not Slytherin, eh?” said the small voice. “Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it’s all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that— no? Well if you’re sure—better be GRYFFINDOR!”
Also a quote from Dumbledore: “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

6. The Power of Love

His inability either to love or to fathom its power is what prevents Voldemort from killing Harry from the beginning. Harry’s father, James, died in a fight while his mother, Lily, died protecting baby Harry.

Source: http://iitsyi.deviantart.com/art/Lily-and-baby-Harry-HP-24772517

Yet another quote from our favorite wizard, Dumbledore: “If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark.”

7. The Easy Way Out

Choices are an integral part of any good story. In Harry Potter we find that the more difficult choice are inevitably the right choice, which must be made. Voldemort’s rise to power is the result of those facing him choosing the easy option (to live under his rule, rather than fight or perish). Cornelius Fudge’s refusal to admit the return of Voldemort was easier than preparing for the first stages of war.

Source: http://www.mugglenet.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2188&pos=19

Another wise Dumbledore quote “We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”

8. Hell Hath No Fury, Like a Woman Scorned

This is made perfectly evident by the reaction Hermione has to Lavender Brown and Ron’s (short-lived) romance.

Source: http://hpcompanion.com/hbp/hbp14/

The door behind them burst open. To Harry’s horror, Ron came in, laughing, pulling Lavender by the hand…
“Oops!” said Lavender, and she backed out of the room, giggling…
Hermione slid off the desk. The little flock of golden birds continued to twitter in circles around her head…
“You shouldn’t leave Lavender waiting outside,” she said quietly…
She walked very slowly and erectly toward the door. Harry glanced at Ron who looked relieved that nothing worse had happened.
“Oppugno!” came a shriek from the doorway.
Harry spun around to see Hermione pointing her wand at Ron, her expression wild: The little flock of bird speeding like a hail of fat golden bullets toward Ron, who yelped and covered his face with his hands, but the birds attacked, pecking and clawing at every bit of flesh they could reach.

9. Heart’s Desire

The Mirror of Erised shows those who look upon it the “deepest and most desperate desires of one’s heart. It is presented as a device with a destructive, almost maddening influence on the beholder. While when Harry’s sees his parents at first it is a comfort to him, he begins to become obsessed with the mirror, until Dumbledore is forced to step in.

Source: http://www.mugglenet.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2188&pos=3

One more quote from Dumbledore, that sage old wizard: “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember, that.”

10. Money Can’t Buy Me Love

The Weasley family has hardly two knuts to rub together, and yet Rowling presents them as the happiest and most loving of all her characters. The Malfoys on the other hand are rolling in galleons, and yet they spend much of the saga wracked with guilt, worry and anxiety.

Source: http://www.myspace.com/weasleyfamily

“…my name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.”
Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him.
“Think my name’s funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford.”

11. Fear Can Be Conquered

During Remus Lupin’s time as Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, he explains that the reason Harry suffers so much in the presence of the Dementors is because of his fear of fear. In time, Harry masters his fear, and the art of the Patronus charm, using focus and determination (and a memory he isn’t even sure is real).

Source: http://www.mugglenet.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2188&pos=8

“I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort.”
Harry stared…
“Clearly, I was wrong,” said Lupin, still frowning at Harry. “But I didn’t think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialise in the staff room. I imagined that people would panic.”
“I did think of Voldemort first,” said Harry honestly. “But then I – I remembered those Dementors.”
“I see,” said Lupin thoughtfully. “Well, well… I’m impressed.” He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry’s face. “That suggests that what you fear most of all is – fear. Very wise, Harry.”

12. Protect the Nest

Even with her evil reputation, Bellatrix Lestrange makes a critical error when she threatens to kill Ginny Weasley. Molly Weasley might have seen one child die at the battle of Hogwarts, but when threatened again she proves that she won’t let ANYONE repeat that trick.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Best-Harry-Potter-Fight-Ever-Molly-Weasley-and-Bellatrix-Lestrange/202493403132080

“NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!”…”OUT OF MY WAY!” Shouted Mrs. Weasley… “No!!” Mrs. Weasley cried as a few students ran forward, trying to come to her aid. “Get back! Get back! She is mine!”
“What will happen to your children when I’ve killed you?” taunted Bellatrix… capering as Molly’s curses danced around her. “When Mummy’s gone the same way as Freddie?”
“You — will — never — touch — our — children — again!” screamed Mrs. Weasley…
Molly’s curse soared beneath Bellatrix’s outstretched arm and hit her squarely in the chest, directly over her heart… and then she toppled…

13. Diversity is Might

Where Voldemort might tell you “Magic is Might,” I say “Diversity is Might.” Throughout the saga, Harry finds himself befriending society’s outcasts, again and again. There’s Rubeus Hagrid the half-giant, Dobby a house-elf, Firenze a centaur, and “Loony” Luna Lovegood who lives by her own rules. Even Griphook, a goblin who might not be considered a friend, helps Harry because of his reputation for loving all beings. These are the characters who often dig Harry and his friends out of the tightest situations.

Source: Book Chapter Art

“You dirty little monkey!” bawled Bellatrix. “How dare you take a witch’s wand, how dare you defy your masters?”
“Dobby has no master!” squealed the elf. “Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!”

14. Treat All With Kindness

Along the same lines as number thirteen, Harry treated every being he met with the same kindness no matter their social standing, when they deserved it. (Dolores Umbridge, and Draco Malfoy are notable exceptions, also, Voldemort, of course). Kreacher, the Black family house elf, helps Harry because Harry was kind to him, Sirius’s mistreatment of Kreacher led ultimately to his death.

Source: Book Chapter Art

“I warned Sirius when we adopted twelve Grimmauld Place as our headquarters that Kreacher must be treated with kindness and respect. I also told him that Kreacher could be dangerous to us. I do not think that Sirius took me very seriously, or that he ever saw Kreacher as a being with feelings as acute as a human’s.” (One last Dumbledore quote)

15. When You Believe

Self-confidence is presented as a key component in magical prophecy. We watch Neville Longbottom’s journey from the very first book, in which he is a hopeless wizard due to low self-esteem brought on from his grandmother. As he grows older and begins to be self-assured he matures into one of the most important figures in the story.

Couldn’t resist using this photo 😉
Source: http://leverredelamode.tumblr.com/

Voldemort: “You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom.”
“I’ll join you when hell freezes over,” said Neville. “Dumbledore’s Army!” he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd…

Adapted from 50 Things We Learned From Harry Potter by Total Film

My favorite Harry Potter sites:

• Muggle Net
• PotterMore
• Harry Potter Wiki

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

How has Harry Potter changed your life? What themes that I didn’t share are important to you?

How to Yoga: and Other Life Lessons

I have been practicing yoga routinely since I started college, four years ago. Before that it was an occasional activity that I enjoyed but was never too attached too. Now, I find it hard to sleep, and my muscles feel stiff if I miss even a day. I feel that every person has a different experience when practicing yoga, and I don’t claim to be an expert, or even that good at it, but I do think that I have learned a few thing in my four years.

Stay Present
My life is full of distractions: what are we having for dinner, I need to check my email, how much homework do I have, etc. Yoga is my escape from all of that.  The only problem is letting myself escape.  Most of the time my mind wanders away from quality breathing and properly setting-up poses to these other thoughts that seem so urgent. When I DO get my thoughts focused in, not only does this helps with my yoga practice, but also helps de-clutter my life.

Wear Yoga Pants

‘nough said

Breathe
If there is one thing I know, it’s that breathing is the best medicine, both inside and outside the yoga practice. Breathing is something that’s taken years of practice for me to learn especially with tough poses. The same way a sigh can relieve tension during a stressful argument, the proper exhale or inhale of breathe can relieve tension in muscles.

Don’t Give Up
There are hundreds of poses that are too difficult for me to even fathom at this point in my yoga practice. I know it will take time and practice to get there, but I won’t get there if I give up.

Laugh at Yourself
Every sport and activity on the planet has a few nuts who take it too seriously. I always take time to laugh at the nut I see in myself. I wrote this song to Tik-Tok by Ke$ha once.

Wake up in the morning feeling like Siddhartha, grab my mat it’s on the floor this isn’t Sparta, start chlid’s pose, downward dog, sun salutations holmes, ‘Cause when I do lotus pose, I can be like “om.” 😉

Also, Yoga: the complete and balanced parts of breakfast.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

How to Yoga: and Other Life Lessons

I have been practicing yoga routinely since I started college, four years ago. Before that it was an occasional activity that I enjoyed but was never too attached too. Now, I find it hard to sleep, and my muscles feel stiff if I miss even a day. I feel that every person has a different experience when practicing yoga, and I don’t claim to be an expert, or even that good at it, but I do think that I have learned a few thing in my four years.

Stay Present
My life is full of distractions: what are we having for dinner, I need to check my email, how much homework do I have, etc. Yoga is my escape from all of that.  The only problem is letting myself escape.  Most of the time my mind wanders away from quality breathing and properly setting-up poses to these other thoughts that seem so urgent. When I DO get my thoughts focused in, not only does this helps with my yoga practice, but also helps de-clutter my life.

Wear Yoga Pants

‘nough said

Breathe
If there is one thing I know, it’s that breathing is the best medicine, both inside and outside the yoga practice. Breathing is something that’s taken years of practice for me to learn especially with tough poses. The same way a sigh can relieve tension during a stressful argument, the proper exhale or inhale of breathe can relieve tension in muscles.

Don’t Give Up
There are hundreds of poses that are too difficult for me to even fathom at this point in my yoga practice. I know it will take time and practice to get there, but I won’t get there if I give up.

Laugh at Yourself
Every sport and activity on the planet has a few nuts who take it too seriously. I always take time to laugh at the nut I see in myself. I wrote this song to Tik-Tok by Ke$ha once.

Wake up in the morning feeling like Siddhartha, grab my mat it’s on the floor this isn’t Sparta, start chlid’s pose, downward dog, sun salutations holmes, ‘Cause when I do lotus pose, I can be like “om.” 😉

Also, Yoga: the complete and balanced parts of breakfast.

Hanging Gutter Garden Part 2: Putting it Together

I know it has been over 3 months since Hanging Gutter Garden Part 1: Adventures in Home Depot. But I do have excuses. One excuse is that I lost my camera battery charger and I could not take pictures of my progress, another is that I’m lazy. But, just before the backpacking extravaganza (and after losing Reid’s camera in the Canyonlands) I broke down and purchased a new (expensive) charger (with LED charging screen and European outlet adapter).

Now that I have the means to take picture I figured it was about time to share my patio garden with you lovely people.

As I said in this post, I wanted to create the hanging gutter garden like this one.

For mine I didn’t have the fancy pants hardware (or the fancy pants bank account). I used the gutter given to me by the gutter guys (A story told here). I also purchased a plastic gutter for $5 at Resource 2000, where they sell salvaged construction materials.

The finished product – metal gutter

Bottom Level = Lettuce

Middle Level = Radishes (recently harvested and replanted)

Top Level = Spinach (recently replanted due to struggling first crop)

The finished product – plastic gutter

All Levels = salad mix (sprouting)

The materials:

• 1 gutter cut into three equal parts (process is almost identical no matter the material, I tried with both plastic and metal gutters)
• 6 gutter caps – the plastic ones are quite nice and can be purchased at Home Depot, Metal are also nice but mine had to be bent to fit the gutter, which was quite a process.
• 2 hooks – I chose some that screw into a drilled hole
• 16’ of 1/8” steel cable cut into 6 equal lengths (or as much as you’ll need to fill your space, gutters should be at least 18” apart to allow adequate sun exposure and plant growth) – I bought this kit at walmart because I was there buying pots and it was the only cable they had. The kit actually came in handy as the clips (though not exactly what I was looking for) worked perfectly. As I worked I realized I needed 32” of cable for both my gutter gardens so I ended up having to go to Home Depot for a yard of steel cable.
• 12 clips – 6 came in the kit mentioned above and there was another pack nearby without 3 clips (no cable) so I bought two of these packs
• 2 thimbles – these came in the kit mentioned above but they are also sold alone

Above = clips, Below = thimble,
Source

• Wire Cutters – sharpened
• Electric drill – with attachments for drilling holes large enough for the steel wire to go through and for tightening nuts on the clips

Step 1. Cut the gutters
The gutter man who gave it to me cut the metal gutter in uneven thirds; my dad then cut into equal length pieces. I sawed the plastic gutter into (almost) equal thirds (I did it all by myself thank you).

Step 2. Drill holes
My dad helped me drill two holes, large enough for the steel cable to fit through, across from each other on each end, and one hole at the center of the base on each end (6 holes per gutter section).

Step 3. Fit the end caps
This part was quite complicated for the metal gutter. The plastic gutter was simple, the caps fit perfectly. My Metal Gutter was not the exact shape of the cap. My dad used pliers to shape the end of the gutter to fit into the cap and a rubber mallet to force it in where it wasn’t exactly perfect. He did this for each of the 6 end caps and I am so grateful for that. If you buy your gutter where you buy your end cap this shouldn’t be a problem for you, mine came from different sources.

Step 4. Cut steel cable into 6 36” sections
We definitely over estimated the amount of steel cable to use. My dad and I were not at my apartment during the building process so we wanted to give ourselves some extra. You might not need so much extra slack when building your gutter garden. Be careful when cutting the wire, it tend to fray; very sharp wire cutters can help prevent fraying.

Step 5. Thread the steel cable
With one end shorter than the other thread the cable through the two holes at the top of the gutter. This can be quite difficult if the cable has frayed. Also be prepared to be poked with sharp metal; gloves are probably a good idea at this point.

Step 6. Secure the cable
Loosen the nuts on the clip and thread both ends of the cable through the clip. Pull the clip down on the cable where its not pulling to much but is tight. Finagle the cable so the short end only pokes out of the clip about an inch and tighten the nuts on the clip, a little on each nut so it tightens evenly. Repeat this process (step 5 and 6) for each gutter on each end (a total of 6 times)

The Metal Gutter

The Plastic Gutter

Step 7. Connect the pieces
Starting with the gutter section you want at the base of your garden thread the long end of the cable through the hole in the base of the middle gutter section. Attach a clip around this single end of cable and tighten. Make sure the clip is at the length you want. Do this on both ends, keeping the gutter level. Do the same thing with the middle gutter and the top gutter. Leave the top gutter for now.

The Metal Gutter

The Plastic Gutter

Step 8. Hanging the dang thing
This was another complicated step. The whole contraption is very heavy, awkward and dynamic. This stage was obviously done at my apartment with my boyfriends help to replace my dad. There is most definitely a better way than how we did this but I am the queen of doing things in the most complicated way. We measured the distance between cables, drilled holes for the screw hook and screwed them in. Then we hauled the apparatus up a step stool and one of our kitchen chairs between the two of us. I stabilized my end as he threaded a clip onto the cable then a thimble around the hook and tightened it. We kept the thing slightly above the railing so that when we screwed it down it would be tight. Mind you this took many, many, many, many, MANY tries because there were so many pieces to hold steady at a precise place, but we finally got it and 3 months later it looks fantastic.

Side note: The method above details how we hung the metal gutters. For the plastic gutters we screwed the bottom gutter onto the railing first, but we couldn’t get it tight enough at the top and it looks like it’s leaning forward since the hooks at the top and the screws at the base are not directly vertical. Therefore we developed the method above, which was also difficult but returned better results.

The Hook in the Ceiling

These gutters dry out VERY fast, especially in an arid climate like Colorado. I have struggled with wilting, browning, and flat out dying plants in these gutters since planting. I have discovered that on hot days I must water them twice: once in the morning and once in the evening, in order to keep them healthy. Someone in a more humid environment might not experience these problems.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

How did you like this post? Are you interested in making a gutter garden? Do you have questions about my process? Leave a comment.

Hanging Gutter Garden Part 2: Putting it Together

I know it has been over 3 months since Hanging Gutter Garden Part 1: Adventures in Home Depot. But I do have excuses. One excuse is that I lost my camera battery charger and I could not take pictures of my progress, another is that I’m lazy. But, just before the backpacking extravaganza (and after losing Reid’s camera in the Canyonlands) I broke down and purchased a new (expensive) charger (with LED charging screen and European outlet adapter).

Now that I have the means to take picture I figured it was about time to share my patio garden with you lovely people.

As I said in this post, I wanted to create the hanging gutter garden like this one.

For mine I didn’t have the fancy pants hardware (or the fancy pants bank account). I used the gutter given to me by the gutter guys (A story told here). I also purchased a plastic gutter for $5 at Resource 2000, where they sell salvaged construction materials.

The finished product – metal gutter

Bottom Level = Lettuce

Middle Level = Radishes (recently harvested and replanted)

Top Level = Spinach (recently replanted due to struggling first crop)

The finished product – plastic gutter

All Levels = salad mix (sprouting)

The materials:

• 1 gutter cut into three equal parts (process is almost identical no matter the material, I tried with both plastic and metal gutters)
• 6 gutter caps – the plastic ones are quite nice and can be purchased at Home Depot, Metal are also nice but mine had to be bent to fit the gutter, which was quite a process.
• 2 hooks – I chose some that screw into a drilled hole
• 16’ of 1/8” steel cable cut into 6 equal lengths (or as much as you’ll need to fill your space, gutters should be at least 18” apart to allow adequate sun exposure and plant growth) – I bought this kit at walmart because I was there buying pots and it was the only cable they had. The kit actually came in handy as the clips (though not exactly what I was looking for) worked perfectly. As I worked I realized I needed 32” of cable for both my gutter gardens so I ended up having to go to Home Depot for a yard of steel cable.
• 12 clips – 6 came in the kit mentioned above and there was another pack nearby without 3 clips (no cable) so I bought two of these packs.
• 2 thimbles – these came in the kit mentioned above but they are also sold alone

Above = clips, Below = thimble,

Source

• Wire Cutters – sharpened
• Electric drill – with attachments for drilling holes large enough for the steel wire to go through and for tightening nuts on the clips

Step 1. Cut the gutters
The gutter man who gave it to me cut the metal gutter in uneven thirds; my dad then cut into equal length pieces. I sawed the plastic gutter into (almost) equal thirds (I did it all by myself thank you).

Step 2. Drill holes
My dad helped me drill two holes, large enough for the steel cable to fit through, across from each other on each end, and one hole at the center of the base on each end (6 holes per gutter section).

Step 3. Fit the end caps
This part was quite complicated for the metal gutter. The plastic gutter was simple, the caps fit perfectly. My Metal Gutter was not the exact shape of the cap. My dad used pliers to shape the end of the gutter to fit into the cap and a rubber mallet to force it in where it wasn’t exactly perfect. He did this for each of the 6 end caps and I am so grateful for that. If you buy your gutter where you buy your end cap this shouldn’t be a problem for you, mine came from different sources.

Step 4. Cut steel cable into 6 36” sections
We definitely over estimated the amount of steel cable to use. My dad and I were not at my apartment during the building process so we wanted to give ourselves some extra. You might not need so much extra slack when building your gutter garden. Be careful when cutting the wire, it tend to fray; very sharp wire cutters can help prevent fraying.

Step 5. Thread the steel cable
With one end shorter than the other thread the cable through the two holes at the top of the gutter. This can be quite difficult if the cable has frayed. Also be prepared to be poked with sharp metal; gloves are probably a good idea at this point.

Step 6. Secure the cable
Loosen the nuts on the clip and thread both ends of the cable through the clip. Pull the clip down on the cable where its not pulling to much but is tight. Finagle the cable so the short end only pokes out of the clip about an inch and tighten the nuts on the clip, a little on each nut so it tightens evenly. Repeat this process (step 5 and 6) for each gutter on each end (a total of 6 times)

The Metal Gutter

The Plastic Gutter

Step 7. Connect the pieces
Starting with the gutter section you want at the base of your garden thread the long end of the cable through the hole in the base of the middle gutter section. Attach a clip around this single end of cable and tighten. Make sure the clip is at the length you want. Do this on both ends, keeping the gutter level. Do the same thing with the middle gutter and the top gutter. Leave the top gutter for now.

The Metal Gutter

The Plastic Gutter

Step 8. Hanging the dang thing
This was another complicated step. The whole contraption is very heavy, awkward and dynamic. This stage was obviously done at my apartment with my boyfriends help to replace my dad. There is most definitely a better way than how we did this but I am the queen of doing things in the most complicated way. We measured the distance between cables, drilled holes for the screw hook and screwed them in. Then we hauled the apparatus up a step stool and one of our kitchen chairs between the two of us. I stabilized my end as he threaded a clip onto the cable then a thimble around the hook and tightened it. We kept the thing slightly above the railing so that when we screwed it down it would be tight. Mind you this took many, many, many, many, MANY tries because there were so many pieces to hold steady at a precise place, but we finally got it and 3 months later it looks fantastic.

Side note: The method above details how we hung the metal gutters. For the plastic gutters we screwed the bottom gutter onto the railing first, but we couldn’t get it tight enough at the top and it looks like it’s leaning forward since the hooks at the top and the screws at the base are not directly vertical. Therefore we developed the method above, which was also difficult but returned better results.

 
The Hook in the Ceiling

These gutters dry out VERY fast, especially in an arid climate like Colorado. I have struggled with wilting, browning, and flat out dying plants in these gutters since planting. I have discovered that on hot days I must water them twice: once in the morning and once in the evening, in order to keep them healthy. Someone in a more humid environment might not experience these problems.

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How did you like this post? Are you interested in making a gutter garden? Do you have questions about my process? Leave a comment.

Backpacking for Dummies: A Dummy’s Guide to Backpacking

This past weekend my family and I went on a backpacking trip.  The members of our travel party would include, myself, my father Charles, my boyfriend Reid, my sister Erica, my brother-in-law Dustin, Dustin’s brother AJ, and my Australian cousin Steven, all of us at varying levels of expertise.

My dad has been backpacking passionately for as long as I can remember and plays a bit of a game with his buddy Tim: they try to pack the lightest pack with only the necessities. Erica, Dustin and AJ had never been backpacking before, but were interested in trying it out, Steven has gone a number of times both in the U.S. and in Australia, Reid, whose dad is also a passionate backpacker, has gone backpacking since he was very young, and I have gone a few of times, always with my dad, inheriting the gear he replaced with a lighter option. This is our story.

From left to right: Dustin, Erica, AJ, Reid, Maggie, Steven
Missing: Charles the photographer

Backpacking for Dummies: A Dummy’s Guide to Backpacking

Preparation:

As any backpacker would know, a backpacking trip doesn’t start at the trailhead. It begins at home with the preparation.

Choosing a date for a backpacking trip can be a very complicated process. Factors to consider:

• Is there a wedding?
• When will your cousin be visiting from Australia?
• Will your uncle be celebrating his 70^th birthday?
• Do you have work or school?
• Are you also planning a trip along the Continental Divide?
• What will you have to reschedule?

In addition to scheduling conflicts, especially when travelling in a large group, backpacking is a sport best enjoyed in warm, dry conditions. It is important to follow the weather reports and choose dates that will ensure a happy company.

The weather in Colorado has been consistently dry and hot for the entire summer thus far, hence the wildfires up and down the state and the creation of this photo. Source: Facebook friend’s wall

However, sometimes you will find that the warm and dry dates fall during conflicting events and you are left with the single cold and wet weekend for probably the entire summer.

After deciding on a date you must gather all of your gear.

• Tent
• Backpack
• Stove and fuel
• Lighter
• Cooking pot and skillet (depending on what you plan to cook)
• Utensils (don’t use your hands, we aren’t barbarians)
• Bowl and/or plate (again… barbarians)
• Mug (hot things are hot)
• Water filter (unless you enjoy the effects of giardia)
• Water holding device (bottle or bladder)
• Sleeping bag
• Camp chair (much nicer than the ground)
• Sleeping pad (cuz the ground is hard and rocks are lumpy)
• Hiking socks (prevent blisters)
• Underwear (I really shouldn’t have to explaint this one)
• Lightweight hiking shorts (move easily)
• Non-cotton lightweight shirts (cotton tends to stay wet once it gets wet from sweat or rain)
• Long underwear pants and shirt (cozy pajamas)
• Fleece (for warmth, dries quickly)
• Rain coat and pants (keeps you dry)
• Hiking boots (broken in)
• Lightweight camp shoes (to relax your feet in after hiking all day)
• Hat (1 to protect against sun, another against cold)
• Headlamp (it gets DARK at night and when nature calls you don’t want to stumble into the lake)
• Trekking poles (nice for steep slopes)
• Toothbrush and paste (for fresh minty breath)
• Hair bands (to tie back your wild tresses)
• Chapstick (cuz chapped lips sucks)
• Sanitation wipes (such as Wet Ones)
• Toilet paper (again with the explaining)
• Sunscreen (sun burns and sleeping outside don’t mix)
• Deep woods bugspray (bugs are annoying)
• First-aid kit (in case of the worst happening)
• Fishing pole and license (cuz it’s fun to catch your own dinner, but don’t count on it)
• Camera with a charged battery (it sucks to get to 11,000 feet carrying your camera the whole way just to find that you can’t take any pictures of the beautiful wildflowers)
• Rope and caribiner (for hanging food in the trees away from camp: bears)

Some things you might already have, you might have to borrow things from friends and family. The important thing is to make sure you have your basic needs covered, shelter and warmth. Sustenance, of course, is another basic need. You have everything you need to store water and to filter it for safe drinking. You also have food preparation and consuming equipment. Now you must decide what food items to bring.

This depends on how many days you will be backpacking, weight and comfort. It is best to go for light items that are filling for their weight. Some good options that I like to bring include:

• Instant oatmeal packets
• Applesauce
• Granola bars
• Ramen, macaroni and cheese, cous cous (anything with a dry grain that you just add water and flavoring)
• Cashews, almonds, pistachios, etc.
• Dried fruit such as raisins, or craisins
• Dehydrated veggies
• Candy bars especially chocolate
• Trail mix
• Instant coffee
• Tea bags
• Chicken or tuna in a foil pouch
• Tortillas can be used to make PB&J roll-ups or quesadillas
• Alcohol

There are many things you can bring and it takes practice to decide what you like best. These are just my personal favorites.

Communication:

It is very important to stay in contact with those who will be travelling with you. They are your support system and prior to the trip everyone should be on the same page as to where you are going, for how long, the hike distance, elevation etc. This can easily be done through email so long as you send emails to the correct address.

Finally all your preparation will be rewarded; the day of the trek has arrived. Have a big breakfast at IHOP and drive to your trailhead, because things are about to get real.

“Up up up up the stairs we go, until we come to the tunnel. And when they go in, there’s no coming out… all she gets is filthy orcses and they doesn’t taste very nice does they precious? No, not very nice at all my love.”
(Not really sure what’s with all the LOTR references, just go with it)
Source: http://www.councilofelrond.com/imagegallery/stairs-of-cirith-ungol/

The Climb:

It’s been said that your brain will quit a hundred times before your body will have to. The thing to remember with backpacking is that you must trick your brain. Encouraging it with phrases like, “We’re almost to the top,” or “You can carry yourself and 40 extra pounds up this steep section,” will help. Another thing to remember is that you can’t stop too often or for too long, your muscles will have to warm up every time you stop and it’s best to just keep going.

Finding Nemo reference, instead of LOTR, 🙂
Source: http://howimetyourfatherblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/keep-calm-and.html

I find that after about 20 minutes I get into the zone: the weight and constant pounding of my feet keeps me centered. Other may experience different findings. Whatever works for you, channel it. (Also make sure to eat snacks and drink LOTS of water)

A quick rest

Camping:

When you find an area that looks nice to camp (with a water source nearby), it’s best to set-up camp before doing anything else (except maybe following nature’s call, which I will not be getting into in this post. If you would like information on using the world as your toilet and leaving no trace please read the 5^th subheading in this article.

Our campsite, set up just before the rain fell, lucky we brought that big heavy tarpaulin

To set up camp first, set up your tent (and a rain tarp, since the clouds will be rolling in at this point). After setting up the tent, pull out your sleeping pad and bag inside the tent to get fluffy and cozy before bed. Then as the first drops begin to fall on your head, put on your raincoat and pants and set up your camp chair. Duck under your rain tarp, hunker down, and try to laugh away the misfortune: play games, drink alcohol, DON’T check the time, and hope for some sun.

When the rain calms a bit and it’s safe to walk around in the tall wet grass snap a few pictures of the beauty that surrounds you.

It’s good to have some activities prepared between meals, to pass the time: day hikes, reading, drawing, photography, fishing, writing, talking, laughing, card playing, and sledding are all good ideas.

As the sun sets, find a good place to hike up to (careful of the slippery wet rocks) and enjoy the view.

When the tarp begins to collect water, engineering must come into play.

The Moose Destroyer

When all else fails and you are feeling lost in the wetness, make new friends.

Hemingway the Caterpillar (if he can survive the cold and wet, so can you)

After cooking and eating dinner, playing a few silly games about what you can take to the moon, and passing around a few communal beers it’s time for bed. Brush your teeth (with a bottle of Jack), strip off your wet clothing and snuggle into your sleeping bag as you listen to the creeks flowing all around you (don’t forget to use the natural toilet before getting in bed, it is the absolute worst thing to have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night on a camping trip, especially when there are streams flowing in every directions and marshes just beyond the streams and tall wet grass everywhere you step).

In the morning you will wake up to the babbling brooks and songs of the birds (and your urgent need to urinate). You will hope that the sun is shining and poke your head out of the tent warily. You see that it is and your heart will flood with joy. You get dressed and let yourself fully out of the tent, joining your party under the big blue tarp. You start preparing your breakfast just as the sun shyly hides its face again behind the clouds.

You resign yourself to another chilly and cloudy day and the company decides to finish breakfast, pack up and head back down the mountain.

Hiking down:

Hopefully you remembered to clip your toenails before the trip because the constant jamming of your toenails into the front of your boots can be quite painful. Just ask those who have decided to have their toenails removed completely. Lacing your boots tightly around your ankles can help with the downhill hike.

Some people say hiking down is the hardest part, yes hiking up is more strenuous and breathing is much harder, but hiking down takes finesse and concentration. Constantly trying to stop your body’s potential energy from turning into kinetic energy is tough work, but still usually takes less time.

Then the whole trip is over. You can load your gear into the car, get in yourself and drive home (or to get some bagels and Taco Bell).

That is, of course, unless your boyfriend is chased down the mountain by a mountain line, which he fights off by punching it in the face, which is seen by pirates who think he is bad ass and want him in their troop, but first they have to initiate him by locking him in a mine in Idaho Springs, which he only escapes because Gandalf (LOTR reference again) shows up blinding them with his staff, and he crawls to safety through a tunnel which leads to the basement of Beaujo’s where he is picked up by his girlfriend and her dad, or so the story has been told.

Further (more practical) information on backpacking:

• REI Backpacking Articles
• BackPacker Magazine Articles

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

What do you think of our experience? Do you like to backpack? Tell me about your past trips.

Backpacking for Dummies: A Dummy’s Guide to Backpacking

This past weekend my family and I went on a backpacking trip.  The members of our travel party would include, myself, my father Charles, my boyfriend Reid, my sister Erica, my brother-in-law Dustin, Dustin’s brother AJ, and my Australian cousin Steven, all of us at varying levels of expertise.

My dad has been backpacking passionately for as long as I can remember and plays a bit of a game with his buddy Tim: they try to pack the lightest pack with only the necessities. Erica, Dustin and AJ had never been backpacking before, but were interested in trying it out, Steven has gone a number of times both in the U.S. and in Australia, Reid, whose dad is also a passionate backpacker, has gone backpacking since he was very young, and I have gone a few of times, always with my dad, inheriting the gear he replaced with a lighter option. This is our story.

From left to right: Dustin, Erica, AJ, Reid, Maggie, Steven
Missing: Charles the photographer


Backpacking for Dummies: A Dummy’s Guide to Backpacking

Preparation:

As any backpacker would know, a backpacking trip doesn’t start at the trailhead. It begins at home with the preparation.

Choosing a date for a backpacking trip can be a very complicated process. Factors to consider:

• Is there a wedding?
• When will your cousin be visiting from Australia?
• Will your uncle be celebrating his 70^th birthday?
• Do you have work or school?
• Are you also planning a trip along the Continental Divide?
• What will you have to reschedule?

In addition to scheduling conflicts, especially when travelling in a large group, backpacking is a sport best enjoyed in warm, dry conditions. It is important to follow the weather reports and choose dates that will ensure a happy company.

The weather in Colorado has been consistently dry and hot for the entire summer thus far, hence the wildfires up and down the state and the creation of this photo. Source: Facebook friend’s wall

However, sometimes you will find that the warm and dry dates fall during conflicting events and you are left with the single cold and wet weekend for probably the entire summer.

After deciding on a date you must gather all of your gear.

• Tent
• Backpack
• Stove and fuel
• Lighter
• Cooking pot and skillet (depending on what you plan to cook)
• Utensils (don’t use your hands, we aren’t barbarians)
• Bowl and/or plate (again… barbarians)
• Mug (hot things are hot)
• Water filter (unless you enjoy the effects of giardia)
• Water holding device (bottle or bladder)
• Sleeping bag
• Camp chair (much nicer than the ground)
• Sleeping pad (cuz the ground is hard and rocks are lumpy)
• Hiking socks (prevent blisters)
• Underwear (I really shouldn’t have to explaint this one)
• Lightweight hiking shorts (move easily)
• Non-cotton lightweight shirts (cotton tends to stay wet once it gets wet from sweat or rain)
• Long underwear pants and shirt (cozy pajamas)
• Fleece (for warmth, dries quickly)
• Rain coat and pants (keeps you dry)
• Hiking boots (broken in)
• Lightweight camp shoes (to relax your feet in after hiking all day)
• Hat (1 to protect against sun, another against cold)
• Headlamp (it gets DARK at night and when nature calls you don’t want to stumble into the lake)
• Trekking poles (nice for steep slopes)
• Toothbrush and paste (for fresh minty breath)
• Hair bands (to tie back your wild tresses)
• Chapstick (cuz chapped lips sucks)
• Sanitation wipes (such as Wet Ones)
• Toilet paper (again with the explaining)
• Sunscreen (sun burns and sleeping outside don’t mix)
• Deep woods bugspray (bugs are annoying)
• First-aid kit (in case of the worst happening)
• Fishing pole and license (cuz it’s fun to catch your own dinner, but don’t count on it)
• Camera with a charged battery (it sucks to get to 11,000 feet carrying your camera the whole way just to find that you can’t take any pictures of the beautiful wildflowers)
• Rope and caribiner (for hanging food in the trees away from camp: bears)

Some things you might already have, you might have to borrow things from friends and family. The important thing is to make sure you have your basic needs covered, shelter and warmth. Sustenance, of course, is another basic need. You have everything you need to store water and to filter it for safe drinking. You also have food preparation and consuming equipment. Now you must decide what food items to bring.

This depends on how many days you will be backpacking, weight and comfort. It is best to go for light items that are filling for their weight. Some good options that I like to bring include:

• Instant oatmeal packets
• Applesauce
• Granola bars
• Ramen, macaroni and cheese, cous cous (anything with a dry grain that you just add water and flavoring)
• Cashews, almonds, pistachios, etc.
• Dried fruit such as raisins, or craisins
• Dehydrated veggies
• Candy bars especially chocolate
• Trail mix
• Instant coffee
• Tea bags
• Chicken or tuna in a foil pouch
• Tortillas can be used to make PB&J roll-ups or quesadillas
• Alcohol

There are many things you can bring and it takes practice to decide what you like best. These are just my personal favorites.

Communication:

It is very important to stay in contact with those who will be travelling with you. They are your support system and prior to the trip everyone should be on the same page as to where you are going, for how long, the hike distance, elevation etc. This can easily be done through email so long as you send emails to the correct address.

Finally all your preparation will be rewarded; the day of the trek has arrived. Have a big breakfast at IHOP and drive to your trailhead, because things are about to get real.

“Up up up up the stairs we go, until we come to the tunnel. And when they go in, there’s no coming out… all she gets is filthy orcses and they doesn’t taste very nice does they precious? No, not very nice at all my love.”
(Not really sure what’s with all the LOTR references, just go with it)
Source: http://www.councilofelrond.com/imagegallery/stairs-of-cirith-ungol/

The Climb:

It’s been said that your brain will quit a hundred times before your body will have to. The thing to remember with backpacking is that you must trick your brain. Encouraging it with phrases like, “We’re almost to the top,” or “You can carry yourself and 40 extra pounds up this steep section,” will help. Another thing to remember is that you can’t stop too often or for too long, your muscles will have to warm up every time you stop and it’s best to just keep going.

Finding Nemo reference, instead of LOTR, 🙂
Source: http://howimetyourfatherblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/keep-calm-and.html

I find that after about 20 minutes I get into the zone: the weight and constant pounding of my feet keeps me centered. Other may experience different findings. Whatever works for you, channel it. (Also make sure to eat snacks and drink LOTS of water)

A quick rest

Camping:

When you find an area that looks nice to camp (with a water source nearby), it’s best to set-up camp before doing anything else (except maybe following nature’s call, which I will not be getting into in this post. If you would like information on using the world as your toilet and leaving no trace please read the 5^th subheading in this article.

Our campsite, set up just before the rain fell, lucky we brought that big heavy tarpaulin

To set up camp first, set up your tent (and a rain tarp, since the clouds will be rolling in at this point). After setting up the tent, pull out your sleeping pad and bag inside the tent to get fluffy and cozy before bed. Then as the first drops begin to fall on your head, put on your raincoat and pants and set up your camp chair. Duck under your rain tarp, hunker down, and try to laugh away the misfortune: play games, drink alcohol, DON’T check the time, and hope for some sun.

When the rain calms a bit and it’s safe to walk around in the tall wet grass snap a few pictures of the beauty that surrounds you.















It’s good to have some activities prepared between meals, to pass the time: day hikes, reading, drawing, photography, fishing, writing, talking, laughing, card playing, and sledding are all good ideas.





As the sun sets, find a good place to hike up to (careful of the slippery wet rocks) and enjoy the view.





When the tarp begins to collect water, engineering must come into play.

The Moose Destroyer

When all else fails and you are feeling lost in the wetness, make new friends.

Hemingway the Caterpillar (if he can survive the cold and wet, so can you)

After cooking and eating dinner, playing a few silly games about what you can take to the moon, and passing around a few communal beers it’s time for bed. Brush your teeth (with a bottle of Jack), strip off your wet clothing and snuggle into your sleeping bag as you listen to the creeks flowing all around you (don’t forget to use the natural toilet before getting in bed, it is the absolute worst thing to have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night on a camping trip, especially when there are streams flowing in every directions and marshes just beyond the streams and tall wet grass everywhere you step).

In the morning you will wake up to the babbling brooks and songs of the birds (and your urgent need to urinate). You will hope that the sun is shining and poke your head out of the tent warily. You see that it is and your heart will flood with joy. You get dressed and let yourself fully out of the tent, joining your party under the big blue tarp. You start preparing your breakfast just as the sun shyly hides its face again behind the clouds.

You resign yourself to another chilly and cloudy day and the company decides to finish breakfast, pack up and head back down the mountain.

Hiking down:

Hopefully you remembered to clip your toenails before the trip because the constant jamming of your toenails into the front of your boots can be quite painful. Just ask those who have decided to have their toenails removed completely. Lacing your boots tightly around your ankles can help with the downhill hike.

Some people say hiking down is the hardest part, yes hiking up is more strenuous and breathing is much harder, but hiking down takes finesse and concentration. Constantly trying to stop your body’s potential energy from turning into kinetic energy is tough work, but still usually takes less time.





Then the whole trip is over. You can load your gear into the car, get in yourself and drive home (or to get some bagels and Taco Bell).

That is, of course, unless your boyfriend is chased down the mountain by a mountain line, which he fights off by punching it in the face, which is seen by pirates who think he is bad ass and want him in their troop, but first they have to initiate him by locking him in a mine in Idaho Springs, which he only escapes because Gandalf (LOTR reference again) shows up blinding them with his staff, and he crawls to safety through a tunnel which leads to the basement of Beaujo’s where he is picked up by his girlfriend and her dad, or so the story has been told.

Further (more practical) information on backpacking:

• REI Backpacking Articles
• BackPacker Magazine Articles

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What do you think of our experience? Do you like to backpack? Tell me about your past trips.

What in the world are bike lanes for?

With the nice weather and the onset of spring I have been enjoying riding my bike around town rather than driving. It has been lovely to fill my lungs with the sweet smell of blooming flowers and listen to the bird songs, while exercising my body on my way to and from class and running errands.

Unfortunately, today a woman in an SUV yelled at me.

For some reason I really hate these stickers, and SUV lady had one.
Image credit: http://www.mr-miata.net/2010/12/family-car-stickers/

The following is my artistic rendition of the encounter:

Stopped at a stoplight next to SUV lady on Howes St. heading north.
(don’t worry mom; I was actually wearing a helmet, It just looked funny in the drawing)

Lady leaning over to the passenger seat and totally not looking at the road to yell at me.

I see your point.

I have compiled a list of possible uses for that bit of road bordered by two white lines found between the car lane and the sidewalk.

1. Extra space for driving while texting. (Saw that happen once: young girl was texting and nearly hit a biker. But that’s a story for another day.)
2. Parked vehicle door opening space.
3. Alien spaceship landing zones.
4. Area for delivery trucks to stop in order to not block car traffic.
5. Saved road in case of future lane expansion.

But enough of that. I know SUV lady probably doesn’t read my blog. For other readers I have including the list of basic rules for bicycles according to the Fort Collins Government website:

• In the state of Colorado a bicycle is a vehicle, you have the same rules and responsibilities as a motor vehicle
• Ride in a designated bike lane if one is present, otherwise ride as far to the right hand side of the road as practicable
• Don’t weave in and out of parked vehicles – hold a straight line of travel
• Ride with traffic
• Ride single file
• Don’t cling to other vehicles
• Obey all traffic signs and signals
• Use a light at night
• Yield to Pedestrians and give an audible signal when passing

Further information and reading:

• You can find a complete list of laws for Fort Collins bicyclists here.
• For bicycle laws in the state of Colorado, click here.
• And a link to the Complete Colorado Cycling Manual.

For your state these laws may be different. I believe everyone should read up on their biking laws before they go around yelling at bicyclists who are indeed following the rules.

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Thanks for reading, leave a comment about your encounters with people not following traffic laws.

What in the world are bike lanes for?

With the nice weather and the onset of spring I have been enjoying riding my bike around town rather than driving. It has been lovely to fill my lungs with the sweet smell of blooming flowers and listen to the bird songs, while exercising my body on my way to and from class and running errands.

Unfortunately, today a woman in an SUV yelled at me.

For some reason I really hate these stickers, and SUV lady had one. Image credit: http://www.mr-miata.net/2010/12/family-car-stickers/

The following is my artistic rendition of the encounter:

Stopped at a stoplight next to SUV lady on Howes St. heading north. (don’t worry mom; I was actually wearing a helmet, It just looked funny in the drawing)

Lady leaning over to the passenger seat and totally not looking at the road to yell at me.

Lady leaning over to the passenger seat and totally not looking at the road to yell at me.

I have compiled a list of possible uses for that bit of road bordered by two white lines found between the car lane and the sidewalk.

1. Extra space for driving while texting. (Saw that happen once: young girl was texting and nearly hit a biker. But that’s a story for another day.)
2. Parked vehicle door opening space.
3. Alien spaceship landing zones.
4. Area for delivery trucks to stop in order to not block car traffic.
5. Saved road in case of future lane expansion.

But enough of that. I know SUV lady probably doesn’t read my blog. For other readers I have including the list of basic rules for bicycles according to the Fort Collins Government website:

• In the state of Colorado a bicycle is a vehicle, you have the same rules and responsibilities as a motor vehicle
• Ride in a designated bike lane if one is present, otherwise ride as far to the right hand side of the road as practicable
• Don’t weave in and out of parked vehicles – hold a straight line of travel
• Ride with traffic
• Ride single file
• Don’t cling to other vehicles
• Obey all traffic signs and signals
• Use a light at night
• Yield to Pedestrians and give an audible signal when passing

Further information and reading:

• You can find a complete list of laws for Fort Collins bicyclists here.
• For bicycle laws in the state of Colorado, click here.
• And a link to the Complete Colorado Cycling Manual.

For your state these laws may be different. I believe everyone should read up on their biking laws before they go around yelling at bicyclists who are indeed following the rules.

Thanks for reading, leave a comment about your encounters with people not following traffic laws.

The continual battle between my time traveling selves

pro·cras·ti·na·tion [proh-kras-tuh–ney-shuhn, pruh‐]

 noun

the act or habit of procrastination, or putting something off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention: She was smart, but her constant procrastination led her to be late with almost every assignment.

The definition according to Dictionary.com

I am a procrastinator.   Fortunately, for me (and for my grades) I am not like the girl in the use-it-in-a-sentence portion of this definition and I work well under pressure. A typical weekend in my humble abode looks something like the following.

That’s my boyfriend Reid looking in the empty fridge.

Our couch is actually tan.

Fortunately he puts up with my crazy.

The continual conflict between my past, present and future selves is how the world will end this year. True story: ask the Mayans.

And now, presenting the 10 reasons I procrastinate:

1.  I will get back to this tomorrow.

 

 

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

The continual battle between my time traveling selves

pro·cras·ti·na·tion [proh-kras-tuh–ney-shuhn, pruh‐] 

 noun

the act or habit of procrastination, or putting something off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention: She was smart, but her constant procrastination led her to be late with almost every assignment.

The definition according to Dictionary.com

I am a procrastinator.   Fortunately, for me (and for my grades) I am not like the girl in the use-it-in-a-sentence portion of this definition and I work well under pressure. A typical weekend in my humble abode looks something like the following.

That's my boyfriend Reid looking in the empty fridge.

Our couch is actually tan.

Fortunately he puts up with my crazy.

The continual conflict between my past, present and future selves is how the world will end this year. True story: ask the Mayans.

And now, presenting the 10 reasons I procrastinate:

1.  I will get back to this tomorrow.

The continual battle between my time traveling selves

pro·cras·ti·na·tion [proh-kras-tuh–ney-shuhn, pruh‐] 

 noun

the act or habit of procrastination, or putting something off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention: She was smart, but her constant procrastination led her to be late with almost every assignment.

The definition according to Dictionary.com ^^^

I am a procrastinator.   Fortunately, for me (and for my grades) I am not like the girl in the use-it-in-a-sentence portion of this definition and I work well under pressure. A typical weekend in my humble abode looks something like the following.

That’s my boyfriend Reid looking in the empty fridge.

Our couch is actually tan.

Fortunately he puts up with my crazy.

The continual conflict between my past, present and future selves is how the world will end this year. True story: ask the Mayans.

And now, presenting the 10 reasons I procrastinate:

1.  I will get back to this tomorrow.

Hanging Gutter Garden Part 1: Adventures in Home Depot

So, I live in a second floor apartment and really want to grow my own food this summer (and also have pretty flowers).  That said, I have many projects planned to make our outside space more livable (we have a beautiful corner balcony with lots of room)

I plan to:

• Make this container structure for pretty flowers
• Plant tomatoes and peppers in pots
• Make this pot tower for herbs
• and make a hanging gutter garden like this

I have all the supplies for the first three; I just need to wait until it is time to start planting.  The gutter garden is going to be the biggest project and I was planning to use my free time between class and work today to get a good solid start on it.  This is the story of why that didn’t happen.

Planning ahead, which is completely out of character in the first place, meant that this morning I loaded up the website with the instructions for my hanging garden onto my kindle fire.  My thought process was was if there is no Internet in Home Depot I can still see what materials I need.  I did not however think about measuring my banister to ceiling distance or anything practical like that.

After class I drove down to Home Depot.  I went straight to the garden center because I knew I needed potting soil.  Then I headed over to the building supplies section.

Either everyone in home depot (including the people who don’t work there) are really friendly or I looked really lost and out of place because on the way to the opposite end of the store I was stopped multiple times, “Do you need help finding something miss?”

Me, scooting along through Home Depot amongst a sea of helpful employees and customers

To most I replied, “No thank you, I’m fine.”  But when I couldn’t find the gutters I finally said, “Yes where do you keep rain gutters?”

“Excuse me?”

“Rain gutters, like the kind you put on your house to divert the flow of rain.”

Strange look… “Well, they’re right down this aisle here about halfway.”

“Thank you!” Big smile.

I began comparing prices and picked the cheapest one: 10’ of plastic gutter for $4.89.  And the ends came in two packs with rubber around the edges for extra sealing power.  Now, 10’ is a lot of feet and when I started driving my cart around the store with that hugeness sticking off both ends of the cart I got even more stares than before.  Then it started sliding off the front end and I just barely catch it.

“Careful there miss!”  One employee called to me, “Are you finding what you need?”

“I’m looking for 1/8” steel cable.”

“Just down here, how much do you need.  I can cut it for you.”

My mind goes blank.  Thought process: How much do I need?  I didn’t measure.  You’re an idiot!  To the employee: “I don’t know how much I need.”

“Well that will be tricky for measuring, won’t it?”  Gives me a smile.  “Let me know if you figure it out.”  Leaves.

I pull out my Kindle, thinking maybe I can estimate based on what they used.  Internet doesn’t work, “We cannot load your page please check that you have access to internet connection.”  Eff you kindle fire.  So much for planning ahead.

I stand there staring at the roll of steel cable (like that’ll help me figure out the distance between my banister and balcony ceiling).  I decide to just make a return trip after measuring and I move down the aisle to where they keep hooks and things.  There are too many choices!  What do I even need?  I start running through options of how to hang this thing, when a man walks over.

“What are you doing with that gutter?”  He asks.

“I’m making a gutter garden, I live in an apartment with a patio so I don’t have anyplace to grow things.”

“Oh how nice.  My friend is doing that with her old gutters, she had plastic ones like this that got ravaged in a hailstorm.  You might want to look at the metal ones; they’re much more durable.”

“Oh thank you so much,” I say, “I didn’t even think about that.”

“Oh yeah and the plastic ones get cracked and dried.  Just be careful with the metal, so you don’t cut yourself.  I built a shed, and last weekend I installed metal gutters on it, my hands are still recovering.”

“Thanks again, I’m going to go check them out.”  Heads back to gutter aisle.  Metal gutters, metal gutters.  There are silver and white… white are twice as expensive?!  Why because they are white?  Oh they are bigger.  I think I want bigger, holds more soil and roots.  No, no, I don’t think I can do this today.  Puts all gutters back.

I went home empty-handed (at least without supplies for this project because I totes bought potting soil and a cute blue pot)

Anyway, on the way home, on the street I live on, I saw one man cutting some gutters, another spray painting some, and another man with his dog on a leash standing and talking to them.  I look in the rearview mirror.  Could it be?  Do I really have this luck?  Truck says Express Gutter Installation.  I screeched my car to a halt and walked over to the man with his dog.

A sign from the garden gods

“Excuse me is this your house?”

“Yes.”  Strange look.

“Are you replacing the gutters?”

“Yes.” Stranger look.

“What are you doing with the old gutters?”

The man who was spray painting says, “You don’t want those, they’re broken and cracked.”

“Well I might, I’m just making a planter. They don’t need to function as gutters.”  I say.

The homeowner says, “Well you are welcome to take a look.”

They are quite broken but they’d probably work and they’re free.  I’m prepared to tell them I’ll take them when the spray painter tells me I can have one of their new ones.

“Really?”  Eyes light up like stars.

Gutter cutter says, “Would you like me to cut it for you?”

“Yes in thirds would be great.”  I say, not believing my luck.

So, he cuts the gutters (not in perfect thirds; but I’m willing to overlook that for the low, low cost of free).

I say, “Thank you so much!  I think this is fate, I just came from Home Depot.”

Spray painter says, “Yeah, gutters can get pretty expensive.”

The homeowner says, “That’ll be $20.”  My heart sinks for a split second before he laughs off his joke.

“Thanks again!”  I say, awkwardly carrying my new gutters to my car.

The garden gods are smiling at me today!

Unfortunately, I don’t have any of the other supplies to make the hanging gutter garden so I will just have to wait for the weekend to continue with this project.  Stay tuned for more building adventures, until next time!

***Update*** The project is complete and there is a blog post to prove it.

 

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

What garden projects are you working on for this summer?

Hanging Gutter Garden Part 1: Adventures in Home Depot

So, I live in a second floor apartment and really want to grow my own food this summer (and also have pretty flowers).  That said, I have many projects planned to make our outside space more livable (we have a beautiful corner balcony with lots of room)

I plan to:

• Make this container structure for pretty flowers
• Plant tomatoes and peppers in pots
• Make this pot tower for herbs
• and make a hanging gutter garden like this

I have all the supplies for the first three; I just need to wait until it is time to start planting.  The gutter garden is going to be the biggest project and I was planning to use my free time between class and work today to get a good solid start on it.  This is the story of why that didn’t happen.

Planning ahead, which is completely out of character in the first place, meant that this morning I loaded up the website with the instructions for my hanging garden onto my kindle fire.  My thought process was was if there is no Internet in Home Depot I can still see what materials I need.  I did not however think about measuring my banister to ceiling distance or anything practical like that.

After class I drove down to Home Depot.  I went straight to the garden center because I knew I needed potting soil.  Then I headed over to the building supplies section.

Either everyone in home depot (including the people who don’t work there) are really friendly or I looked really lost and out of place because on the way to the opposite end of the store I was stopped multiple times, “Do you need help finding something miss?”

Me, scooting along through Home Depot amongst a sea of helpful employees and customers

To most I replied, “No thank you, I’m fine.”  But when I couldn’t find the gutters I finally said, “Yes where do you keep rain gutters?”

“Excuse me?”

“Rain gutters, like the kind you put on your house to divert the flow of rain.”

Strange look… “Well, they’re right down this aisle here about halfway.”

“Thank you!” Big smile.

I began comparing prices and picked the cheapest one: 10’ of plastic gutter for $4.89.  And the ends came in two packs with rubber around the edges for extra sealing power.  Now, 10’ is a lot of feet and when I started driving my cart around the store with that hugeness sticking off both ends of the cart I got even more stares than before.  Then it started sliding off the front end and I just barely catch it.

“Careful there miss!”  One employee called to me, “Are you finding what you need?”

“I’m looking for 1/8” steel cable.”

“Just down here, how much do you need.  I can cut it for you.”

My mind goes blank.  Thought process: How much do I need?  I didn’t measure.  You’re an idiot!  To the employee: “I don’t know how much I need.”

“Well that will be tricky for measuring, won’t it?”  Gives me a smile.  “Let me know if you figure it out.”  Leaves.

I pull out my Kindle, thinking maybe I can estimate based on what they used.  Internet doesn’t work, “We cannot load your page please check that you have access to internet connection.”  Eff you kindle fire.  So much for planning ahead.

I stand there staring at the roll of steel cable (like that’ll help me figure out the distance between my banister and balcony ceiling).  I decide to just make a return trip after measuring and I move down the aisle to where they keep hooks and things.  There are too many choices!  What do I even need?  I start running through options of how to hang this thing, when a man walks over.

“What are you doing with that gutter?”  He asks.

“I’m making a gutter garden, I live in an apartment with a patio so I don’t have anyplace to grow things.”

“Oh how nice.  My friend is doing that with her old gutters, she had plastic ones like this that got ravaged in a hailstorm.  You might want to look at the metal ones; they’re much more durable.”

“Oh thank you so much,” I say, “I didn’t even think about that.”

“Oh yeah and the plastic ones get cracked and dried.  Just be careful with the metal, so you don’t cut yourself.  I built a shed, and last weekend I installed metal gutters on it, my hands are still recovering.”

“Thanks again, I’m going to go check them out.”  Heads back to gutter aisle.  Metal gutters, metal gutters.  There are silver and white… white are twice as expensive?!  Why because they are white?  Oh they are bigger.  I think I want bigger, holds more soil and roots.  No, no, I don’t think I can do this today.  Puts all gutters back.

I went home empty-handed (at least without supplies for this project because I totes bought potting soil and a cute blue pot)

Anyway, on the way home, on the street I live on, I saw one man cutting some gutters, another spray painting some, and another man with his dog on a leash standing and talking to them.  I look in the rearview mirror.  Could it be?  Do I really have this luck?  Truck says Express Gutter Installation.  I screeched my car to a halt and walked over to the man with his dog.

A sign from the garden gods

“Excuse me is this your house?”

“Yes.”  Strange look.

“Are you replacing the gutters?”

“Yes.” Stranger look.

“What are you doing with the old gutters?”

The man who was spray painting says, “You don’t want those, they’re broken and cracked.”

“Well I might, I’m just making a planter. They don’t need to function as gutters.”  I say.

The homeowner says, “Well you are welcome to take a look.”

They are quite broken but they’d probably work and they’re free.  I’m prepared to tell them I’ll take them when the spray painter tells me I can have one of their new ones.

“Really?”  Eyes light up like stars.

Gutter cutter says, “Would you like me to cut it for you?”

“Yes in thirds would be great.”  I say, not believing my luck.

So, he cuts the gutters (not in perfect thirds; but I’m willing to overlook that for the low, low cost of free).

I say, “Thank you so much!  I think this is fate, I just came from Home Depot.”

Spray painter says, “Yeah, gutters can get pretty expensive.”

The homeowner says, “That’ll be $20.”  My heart sinks for a split second before he laughs off his joke.

“Thanks again!”  I say, awkwardly carrying my new gutters to my car.

The garden gods are smiling at me today!

Unfortunately, I don’t have any of the other supplies to make the hanging gutter garden so I will just have to wait for the weekend to continue with this project.  Stay tuned for more building adventures, until next time!

***Update*** The project is complete and there is a blog post to prove it.

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What garden projects are you working on for this summer?

My Take on the Kony 2012 Campaign

We live in the age of the internet and, for better or for worse, Social Media is King.  Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Myspace, Tumblr, YouTube.  There are hundreds of sites that are designed to keep us connected, allow us to share ideas,  and make the world feel smaller.  With the invention of smart phones, the drunken bar argument about when an event occurred in history, or who wrote a certain song, or how to pronounce a word is a thing of the past.  My generation have grown up with the equipment and the know-how to look up anything we want to know at any time, without much effort.  Some organizations are using this to their benefit.



This video, according to the caption on YouTube, ”aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.”  (I believe they really want to make him infamous but that’s just my opinion about word choice)

To summarize the video, Joseph Kony is an evil Ugandan warlord who kidnaps children and uses them as soldiers and sex slaves for his militia the LRA.  Jason Russell has been working through the organization, in which he is an original founder, Invisible Children, for a decade to bring an end to Kony’s reign.  They want to catch him this year and they need everyone to know about him.  What they don’t tell you is that according to this article, both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army, that Invisible Children is working with to find Kony, are just as corrupt.

Invisible Children Inc. has good intentions and I can respect that.  They have their heart in the right place but I’m not so sure about their head.  This article explains why the author doesn’t support the Kony 2012 campaign.

When I began writing this blog, on Tuesday after I first saw the YouTube video. I was inspired.  I was sucked in by good marketing and the need to feel involved.  As I started doing more research on the topic to find the facts behind the video, I realized that I am very confused.

My optimistic, do-gooder side says, “We can do it!  Let’s bring justice!” and my logical questioning side says, “Who are they kidding?  They’re backing the lesser of two evils.”  I want to believe in this campaign but I’m not so sure I want to support Invisible Children.  I want to live in a world where the people have the power to band together and precipitate change but I know it’s more complicated and there are many hoops to jump through.

It’s taken me three days of editing and thinking and discussing and writing to finally come to the conclusion that nothing is ever black and white.  I think the biggest lessons I’ve learn through my research are that just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s factual, that knowledge is power and to never take something at face value.

Further Reading:

• This Reddit Comment
• The Globe and Mail article
• Washington Times Communities article
• Foreign Policy blog
• Invisible Children’s official response to negativity
• Kony 2012: rebels without a pause

Help me make up my mind: What do you think about the Kony 2012 Campaign?  What is an issue you believe in?

***UPDATE: I know I’m about four months late on this update. Like many other people, I jumped on the bandwagon of this cause and forgot about it after the fad was over. In my blog revamp I saw this post and decided to check up on the campaign’s progress. In April 2012 this video was released:




Any thoughts?

My Take on the Kony 2012 Campaign

We live in the age of the internet and, for better or for worse, Social Media is King.  Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Myspace, Tumblr, YouTube.  There are hundreds of sites that are designed to keep us connected, allow us to share ideas,  and make the world feel smaller.  With the invention of smart phones, the drunken bar argument about when an event occurred in history, or who wrote a certain song, or how to pronounce a word is a thing of the past.  My generation have grown up with the equipment and the know-how to look up anything we want to know at any time, without much effort.  Some organizations are using this to their benefit.

This video, according to the caption on YouTube, ”aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.”  (I believe they really want to make him infamous but that’s just my opinion about word choice)

To summarize the video, Joseph Kony is an evil Ugandan warlord who kidnaps children and uses them as soldiers and sex slaves for his militia the LRA.  Jason Russell has been working through the organization, in which he is an original founder, Invisible Children, for a decade to bring an end to Kony’s reign.  They want to catch him this year and they need everyone to know about him.  What they don’t tell you is that according to this article, both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army, that Invisible Children is working with to find Kony, are just as corrupt.

Invisible Children Inc. has good intentions and I can respect that.  They have their heart in the right place but I’m not so sure about their head.  This article explains why the author doesn’t support the Kony 2012 campaign.

When I began writing this blog, on Tuesday after I first saw the YouTube video. I was inspired.  I was sucked in by good marketing and the need to feel involved.  As I started doing more research on the topic to find the facts behind the video, I realized that I am very confused.

My optimistic, do-gooder side says, “We can do it!  Let’s bring justice!” and my logical questioning side says, “Who are they kidding?  They’re backing the lesser of two evils.”  I want to believe in this campaign but I’m not so sure I want to support Invisible Children.  I want to live in a world where the people have the power to band together and precipitate change but I know it’s more complicated and there are many hoops to jump through.

It’s taken me three days of editing and thinking and discussing and writing to finally come to the conclusion that nothing is ever black and white.  I think the biggest lessons I’ve learn through my research are that just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s factual, that knowledge is power and to never take something at face value.

Further Reading:

• This Reddit Comment
• The Globe and Mail article
• Washington Times Communities article
• Foreign Policy blog
• Invisible Children’s official response to negativity
• Kony 2012: rebels without a pause

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Help me make up my mind: What do you think about the Kony 2012 Campaign?  What is an issue you believe in?

International Women’s Day

Short post today… I’m making hummus and granola bars (more on that later)

Google Logo for the day

If you’ve opened Google today you’ve seen this image and possibly wondered what it was all about.  Well, it’s International Women’s Day!  What does that even mean?  Visit this website.

Now for an article: “Subject for Debate: Are Women People?“

How are you celebrating women (even the not people ones) today?

International Women’s Day

Short post today… I’m making hummus and granola bars (more on that later)

Google Logo for the day

If you’ve opened Google today you’ve seen this image and possibly wondered what it was all about.  Well, it’s International Women’s Day!  What does that even mean?  Visit this website.

Now for an article: “Subject for Debate: Are Women People?”

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

How are you celebrating women (even the not people ones) today?

Homemade Tagalongs

…(or as they’re known elsewhere Peanut Butter Patties)

As you know I love to use Pinterest.  I’ve mentioned that I actually use a few of the things I pin.  One (mentioned yesterday) is fitness, another is recipes.  As usual, I was perusing the Pinterest community and discovered this little beauty of a recipe for Tagalongs from Sweet Pea’s Kitchen.  I have been saving it for a special occasion, but finally yesterday I couldn’t wait any longer.  I had to try me some Tagalongs – homemade style.  So I got out all my baking gear and began.

When I bake usually I like to listen to some good music but yesterday I already had my Pandora set to the preset “Pop and Hip Hop Power Workout Station” (I was getting my 5-4-3-2-1 on) so I just left it (that’s funny because it’s not good music… get it?) It was quite fun dancing to this type of music and I highly recommend it for future baking projects.

Anyway, Tagalongs…

Image Credit: Little Brownie Bakers This is what Tagalongs look like from the box

Now, normally I would not wish to take away from the Girl Scouts and their one major fundraiser they have all year; after all I was one once.  However $4.00 for a box of cookies is a bit pricey for a college student who needs to buy real food.  The only problem is I absolutely love Tagalongs.  I used to keep the box in my room so greedy hands belonging to my sister and parents would not defile my tasty bits of heaven.  I weighed it in my head in front of that little table the girls had set up outside of King Soopers grocery store: do I want to spend my $4.00 on some cookies or something more nutritious.  Now, I no longer have to shed out precious cash for happiness and the recipe makes enough that I don’t mind sharing.

Image Credit: Christina of Suite Pea’s Kitchen Her’s look way better than mine… Chocolate is super messy”

This recipe on the Sweet Pea’s Kitchen blog is fantastic.  It took FOREVER to make (possibly due to all the dancing) but let me tell you something, it is totally worth it.  These cookies are delicious and they taste a bazillion times better than the boxed variety.

So I really wanted to do a step-by-step post of my progress while baking (complete with the proper dance move technique for each task) but, alas, my camera charger is nowhere to be found.  Without pictures I feel this post would be a bit bland so I’ll just stick with my fantabulous review of this recipe and let you read the step-by-step on Sweet Pea’s Kitchen.

My only edits:  I added about a tablespoon of water to the chocolate to spread it a bit further and to make it more liquidy.  The peanut butter filling is REALLY sweet so next time I will probably add less sugar.  My batch only made two dozen (the recipe says 3 dozen) which leads me to believe I made the cookies too big.  This is probably true because with the filling and the chocolate it is very rich and hard to finish just one cookie.  Definitely a death-by-chocolate type of dessert, but yummers!

Happy Baking!

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Would you prefer the boxed variety or these homemade delicacies?  How do you get your bake on?  Care to share a recipe I should try?

Homemade Tagalongs

…(or as they’re known elsewhere Peanut Butter Patties)

As you know I love to use Pinterest.  I’ve mentioned that I actually use a few of the things I pin.  One (mentioned yesterday) is fitness, another is recipes.  As usual, I was perusing the Pinterest community and discovered this little beauty of a recipe for Tagalongs from Sweet Pea’s Kitchen.  I have been saving it for a special occasion, but finally yesterday I couldn’t wait any longer.  I had to try me some Tagalongs – homemade style.  So I got out all my baking gear and began.

When I bake usually I like to listen to some good music but yesterday I already had my Pandora set to the preset “Pop and Hip Hop Power Workout Station” (I was getting my 5-4-3-2-1 on) so I just left it.  It was quite fun dancing to this type of music and I highly recommend it for future baking projects.

Anyway, Tagalongs…

Image Credit: Little Brownie Bakers
This is what Tagalongs look like from the box

Now, normally I would not wish to take away from the Girl Scouts and their one major fundraiser they have all year; after all I was one once.  However $4.00 for a box of cookies is a bit pricey for a college student who needs to buy real food.  The only problem is I absolutely love Tagalongs.  I used to keep the box in my room so greedy hands belonging to my sister and parents would not defile my tasty bits of heaven.  I weighed it in my head in front of that little table the girls had set up outside of King Soopers grocery store: do I want to spend my $4.00 on some cookies or something more nutritious.  Now, I no longer have to shed out precious cash for happiness and the recipe makes enough that I don’t mind sharing.

Image Credit: Christina of Suite Pea’s Kitchen
Her’s look way better than mine…
Chocolate is super messy

This recipe on the Sweet Pea’s Kitchen blog is fantastic.  It took FOREVER to make (possibly due to all the dancing) but let me tell you something, it is totally worth it.  These cookies are delicious and they taste a bazillion times better than the boxed variety.

So I really wanted to do a step-by-step post of my progress while baking (complete with the proper dance move technique for each task) but, alas, my camera charger is nowhere to be found.  Without pictures I feel this post would be a bit bland so I’ll just stick with my fantabulous review of this recipe and let you read the step-by-step on Sweet Pea’s Kitchen.

My only edits:  I added about a tablespoon of water to the chocolate to spread it a bit further and to make it more liquidy.  The peanut butter filling is REALLY sweet so next time I will probably add less sugar.  My batch only made two dozen (the recipe says 3 dozen) which leads me to believe I made the cookies too big.  This is probably true because with the filling and the chocolate it is very rich and hard to finish just one cookie.  Definitely a death-by-chocolate type of dessert, but yummers!

Happy Baking!

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Would you prefer the boxed variety or these homemade delicacies?  How do you get your bake on?  Care to share a recipe I should try?

The 5-4-3-2-1 Workout (my version)

One of my latest obsessions is the website Pinterest (if you want to follow me, my username is: maghaseman).  I spend way too much time there pinning things to plan the wedding that is non-existent, the house I’ll never be able to afford and the vacation of my dreams.  There are a few things I do pin that I actually use though, including workouts.  I came across this wonderful routine about a month ago and have tried it a few times.  I love Caitlin’s Blog Fit Fab Cities and have tried a lot of her ideas.

This particular routine, The 5-4-3-2-1 Workout, is such a great idea, it’s quick and, as Caitlin says in her blog, easy to fit into a busy schedule, and I love the formatting (bright colors).  However, as I was doing the exercise I found that I lost track of the workout.  I have always struggled with workouts that have too much variety, some people enjoy the variety because it keeps it interesting but for me personally it doesn’t work.  The other thing I didn’t like was that it was missing ab exercises.  So I revamped it a little to suit my own needs:

You can download the printable version by clicking this link: 5-4-3-2-1 workout.

I kept Caitlin’s cutesy rainbow formatting and a lot of her content.  I replaced her 4 minute section with ab exercises.  Hope you enjoy it!

**Update: Check out my workout terms glossary.

These are the terms used in this workout:

Bicycle Crunch

Lay flat on your back. Place your hands behind your head, lift your left leg straight up about 2 inches from the ground and bring your right knee up to form a 90-degree angle. As you do this pull your left shoulder away from the mat bringing your left elbow to your right knee. Make sure you don’t pull your head forward with your arms but rather keep your gaze upward and use your hand for neck support only. Now switch, pull your right elbow to your 90-degree-bent left knee and straighten your right leg to hover above the floor.

Crunch

Lay flat on your back. Place your hands behind your head, and your feet flat on the floor. Pull your shoulders away from the mat. Make sure you don’t pull your head forward with your arms but rather keep your gaze upward and use your hand for neck support only. Lower yourself back to the mat.

High Knees

Start standing and begin jogging in place lifting your knees as high as possible.

Jumping Jacks

Starting standing with feet together and arms straight by your sides. Jump up and spread your arms and legs wide as you land. Jump up again to return to center.

Lunge

Take a big step forward with your left foot, bend your knees and lower your body until both legs form 90-degree angles. Push off with your left foot and stand back up. Do reps, and then repeat on other leg.

Plank

Set-up the top of a push-up position with your hands directly below your shoulder. A variation of this is to rest on your forearms with elbows directly beneath shoulders. Hold your body completely straight by engaging your abs. If you can’t hold the plank for the full duration, work up to it. Form is more important the length of time: don’t drop your hips or raise your butt.

Pushup

Lay on your belly with hand flat on the floor on either side, forearms perpendicular to the floor. Stiffen body and literally push yourself away from the ground, hinging at the toes. When arms are straight hold and with control release your body, hover above the ground and repeat.

Squat

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms by sides, Squat slowly until both knees are bent 90 degrees and raise arms straight to shoulder level in front of you. Immediately rise out of squat, returning to standing with arms by side.

Tricep Dip

Find an elevated surface such as a step, a coffee table over a chair. Place your palms on the surface directly behind your body. Hold yourself up and gently lower yourself down using your arms. When your arms make a 90-degree angle behind you lift yourself back up to the starting position.

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Leave a comment: What kind of exercises do you enjoy?  How do you fit workouts into your busy schedule?

The 5-4-3-2-1 Workout (my version)

One of my latest obsessions is the website Pinterest (if you want to follow me, my username is: maghaseman).  I spend way too much time there pinning things to plan the wedding that is non-existent, the house I’ll never be able to afford and the vacation of my dreams.  There are a few things I do pin that I actually use though, including workouts.  I came across this wonderful routine about a month ago and have tried it a few times.  I love Caitlin’s Blog Fit Fab Cities and have tried a lot of her ideas.

This particular routine, The 5-4-3-2-1 Workout, is such a great idea, it’s quick and, as Caitlin says in her blog, easy to fit into a busy schedule, and I love the formatting (bright colors).  However, as I was doing the exercise I found that I lost track of the workout.  I have always struggled with workouts that have too much variety, some people enjoy the variety because it keeps it interesting but for me personally it doesn’t work.  The other thing I didn’t like was that it was missing ab exercises.  So I revamped it a little to suit my own needs:

You can download the printable version by clicking this link: 5-4-3-2-1 workout.

I kept Caitlin’s cutesy rainbow formatting and a lot of her content.  I replaced her 4 minute section with ab exercises.  Hope you enjoy it!

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

Leave a comment: What kind of exercises do you enjoy?  How do you fit workouts into your busy schedule?

Mermaid v. Whale

The other day I was on Facebook having a conversation with one of my friends.  Full-blown conversations online have always bothered me for some reason.  Continually commenting on some status back and forth until one of you finally decides to just stop saying things.  It seems silly to formally end it by saying something like “Well I have to go now,” because it’s a comment.  Anyway that’s beside the point.

My point is that while I didn’t enjoy the media for having the conversation I did enjoy the topic (and I hope to continue the discussion when I see my friend next).  We were discussing, of all things, weight.  As in size: fat or thin, big or small, whale or mermaid etc.  The conversation was started from a post I shared from a friend on Facebook.  This post to be exact:

“A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?”

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way: 

“Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.

They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.

They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on CDs. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?

They would have no sex life and could not bear children.  Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.  And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I’d rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn’t enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.  We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.

Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: “How amazing am I ?! “

(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)”

My friend commented that first, humans should be neither whales nor mermaids but humans and second, that he doesn’t like “polarized arguments on either side glorifying either ideal to the extent of unhealthy life habits.”  Both of which are good points.  In responding to him (in the Facebook conversation way that I so enjoy) I started talking about the reasons I shared this particular post: “I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.”  I also realized that I have a lot to say about being healthy and my whole life is very focused on size.

The people who surround me spend a lot of time talking about what not to eat and how to stay thin.  The TV shows I watch show “perfect” women.  The magazines I read talk about how best to cut calories and the best workout plan for a flat stomach.  I know I’m guilty of thinking my thighs are too big but I’m also guilty of thinking I’m smokin’ hot within the same day.  And I know I’m not alone.

And all of this, and the realization that all my writing from the past are basically blog posts, led me to decide that I wanted to start a blog.  I want to write about all the things that go into living a healthy life (as far as I know).  I want to share recipes that are healthful, yoga routines that help to balance and a general lifestyle that refreshes.  I want to share the things that happen in my brain and in return I want to discover what others will share with me.

So to begin I’ll introduce myself.  My name is Maggie Haseman.  I am 21 years old.  I currently study restoration ecology in rangeland ecosystems at Colorado State University in Fort Collins Colorado.  My interests include, healthful cooking, practicing yoga, nurturing and collecting plants, playing board and card games, learning as much as I can, teaching others about what I know, reading and getting lost in stories, writing about what I think, laughing a lot, singing to my favorite songs, dancing like a crazy person, listening to music and to what others have to say, talking about things that do matter and things that don’t matter, tasting delicious food, entertaining friends and family, making and viewing art.  I could go on; But I won’t.

 

(***Update 09/05/12: Although I loved my time at WordPress, I found it was my time to move on. I am now at Blogger; I believe it to be a better fit for me personally. If you subscribe, or want to subscribe, to this blog, please be sure to subscribe to the new one. Here’s the link.)

This is me.  I would love to hear from you; who are you?  What do you think about the mermaid vs. whale discussion?  How do you live happily and healthfully?

Mermaid v. Whale

The other day I was on Facebook having a conversation with one of my friends.  Full-blown conversations online have always bothered me for some reason.  Continually commenting on some status back and forth until one of you finally decides to just stop saying things.  It seems silly to formally end it by saying something like “Well I have to go now,” because it’s a comment.  Anyway that’s beside the point.

My point is that while I didn’t enjoy the media for having the conversation I did enjoy the topic (and I hope to continue the discussion when I see my friend next).  We were discussing, of all things, weight.  As in size: fat or thin, big or small, whale or mermaid etc.  The conversation was started from a post I shared from a friend on Facebook.  This post to be exact:


“A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was “This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?”

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way: 

“Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.

They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.

They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on CDs. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?

They would have no sex life and could not bear children.  Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.  And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I’d rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn’t enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.  We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.

Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: “How amazing am I ?! “

(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)”

My friend commented that first, humans should be neither whales nor mermaids but humans and second, that he doesn’t like “polarized arguments on either side glorifying either ideal to the extent of unhealthy life habits.”  Both of which are good points.  In responding to him (in the Facebook conversation way that I so enjoy) I started talking about the reasons I shared this particular post: “I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.”  I also realized that I have a lot to say about being healthy and my whole life is very focused on size.

The people who surround me spend a lot of time talking about what not to eat and how to stay thin.  The TV shows I watch show “perfect” women.  The magazines I read talk about how best to cut calories and the best workout plan for a flat stomach.  I know I’m guilty of thinking my thighs are too big but I’m also guilty of thinking I’m smokin’ hot within the same day.  And I know I’m not alone.

And all of this, and the realization that all my writing from the past are basically blog posts, led me to decide that I wanted to start a blog.  I want to write about all the things that go into living a healthy life (as far as I know).  I want to share recipes that are healthful, yoga routines that help to balance and a general lifestyle that refreshes.  I want to share the things that happen in my brain and in return I want to discover what others will share with me.

So to begin I’ll introduce myself.  My name is Maggie Haseman.  I am 21 years old.  I currently study restoration ecology in rangeland ecosystems at Colorado State University in Fort Collins Colorado.  My interests include, healthful cooking, practicing yoga, nurturing and collecting plants, playing board and card games, learning as much as I can, teaching others about what I know, reading and getting lost in stories, writing about what I think, laughing a lot, singing to my favorite songs, dancing like a crazy person, listening to music and to what others have to say, talking about things that do matter and things that don’t matter, tasting delicious food, entertaining friends and family, making and viewing art.  I could go on; But I won’t.

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This is me.  I would love to hear from you; who are you?  What do you think about the mermaid vs. whale discussion?  How do you live happily and healthfully?