How a Robotic Vacuum Gave Me Back My Free Time!

Have you ever seen the Pixar movie Wall-E? If you haven’t seen it – the movie is about a diligent little trash-compacting robot that’s been tasked to clean the Earth which has become nothing more than a wasteland of garbage left behind by humans. The people of Earth have all left to float around in space until the fleet of robots has cleaned the Earth and it’s safe once again to live. Unfortunately, the robotic fleet has dwindled due to the immense amount of work, age of the machinery and so forth and so on. Wall-E is the sole robot left, and his task appears to be more than he can ever handle. If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s a great reminder that we only have one Earth, and we need to take care of it for future generations.

Ok, so why am I talking about a children’s movie in this post? Because like the people in the movie,  the never-ending battle of trying to keep my house clean makes me want to run away and not come back until it’s clean. We have 2 cats and an 11-year-old border collie with a thyroid condition that makes her shed more than normal. We literally have to vacuum EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. or we have more tumbleweeds rolling across the floor than the Old West in a windstorm. If you don’t believe me, here’s photo evidence. We went to the mountains with our friends, leaving on a Friday afternoon and returning Sunday evening. This picture is only about 48 hours worth of fur and dander.

Vacuuming is taking up about 10 hours of our time per week (1.5 hrs/day), so I’ve been looking for ways to cut that time down. Short of getting rid of the fur babies, there aren’t many solutions. I was lamenting to my mom about the problem and she mentioned that someone at her church told her they bought a Roomba and LOVED it. I started researching consumer reviews, prices, tech reviews and even watched videos on YouTube. I had no clue there were so many brands of robotic vacuums out there. I also had no clue that some were upwards of $1000 and since I had no idea how well it would work, I wasn’t ready to drop that kind of cash. After about a week of research, I finally decided on the EcoVacs Deebot N79s model. You can find it on Amazon for $249 but there’s actually a coupon that gives you $50 off. With free 2-day shipping through Prime, that’s only $199! This model has a few of the bells and whistles, but isn’t as fancy as some of the other models/brands. It does however, come with a slew of good reviews – 4.5/5 stars to be exact.

I placed my order and 2 days later, my new personal “Wall-E” (yes, we named him after the movie) was at my door. The box came with the main vacuum, charging station, 2 brushes that needed to be popped into place, a cleaning brush, remote and 2 AA batteries (for the remote). I popped the 2 brushes into places and sat my little robotic helper on the dock to charge. 4 hours later, he was ready for his maiden voyage. Like Wall-E in the movie, he’s a diligent little robot. He takes his time going in a semi erratic pattern around the house, under couches and beds and over the rug and thresholds – maneuvering room to room with ease. I was scared because we have a small set of stairs in out home, but as advertised, the drop sensors alerted him to turn around right at the edge (I still suggest watching the first time or 2 to make sure). He did get trapped one time between the legs of our kitchen table, but made his way out after about 5 minutes. On the first go-round, it took about 1.5 hours before he went back to the charging doc. I decided to empty the collection bin – and I was surprised at how much the bin actually held! One negative that almost every review had mentioned was that the bins get full quickly. Even though the bin was mostly full, we still hadn’t received a “bin full” notification and probably could have gone another 30 minutes before needing to empty it. I’d say on an average day where we haven’t been out of town and neglected our floors – Wall-E could have cleaned the entire 1750 sf house without having to be emptied. After he charged a few more hours, I ran him again – this was a necessity since we’d been gone for 3 days. Even if we used the upright vacuum it probably would have taken us 2 passes to make sure everything was clean. He again worked for about an hour and a half and returned to the dock full and ready to be emptied.

We’ve had our DeeBot for a little over 2 weeks now and here’s my takeaway – If you’re a

No dirt, dander or fur on these floors!

family with pets, little children that drop Cheerios all over the floor or you just want to save time – a robotic vacuum might be for you. We’ve tried the “auto” and “perimeter” settings and our little bot hasn’t disappointed yet. Our floor is cleaner, the rug always looks freshly vacuumed and we now have time to do other things we don’t enjoy – like dishes and laundry – where’s Rosie (from the Jetsons) when you need her?! JK – we do have at least an extra hour to hour and a half each day to spend doing things we love. Overall – I’d give the Deebot N79S a 4.5/5 stars – here’s a breakdown of my review below:

Pros:

• Saves time
• House is much cleaner since it gets under furniture with ease
• The dog and cats aren’t afraid of the Deebot like they are the regular vacuum
• Can schedule to run at a certain time of day, or can be manually operated from phone/remote
• Has options to use phone or remote for control
• Drop sensors keep your Deebot from falling to its death down the stairs
• It’s QUIET
• It’s small and light – easy to take from floor to floor

Cons:

• If you have stairs, you’ll still need a traditional or hand-held vacuum for your treads
• The bot will usually softly bump against an object and realize it needs to move away – not the case for very small or light objects such as flip-flops – It took a chunk our of my yoga mat flip flops – Very sad!

Do any of you have a robotic vacuum? What are your tips and tricks for saving time on chores throughout the week? I’d love to hear from you – Send me an email or leave a comment on my post!

 

 

Trading Winter Blues for Summer Sun: Sample Weight Watchers Meals to get You Beach Ready!

As you probably know from my bio and Instagram feed, I’m on a combined fitness and weight loss journey.  After gaining 43 lbs. in less than four years at my previous job (I was chained to my desk about twelve hours every day), it was time for a change. I started watching my food intake, drank protein shakes for breakfast and lunch and started adding exercise to my daily routine. I lost a quick 15 lbs. and felt GREAT! I was on top of

Initial 15 lb loss – Highest weight on the right

the weight loss world and I just KNEW this was going to be easy peasy – Then reality hit and I was STUCK. It was easy to lose weight in the beginning because I was creating a huge calorie deficit, but let’s face it, drinking your meals doesn’t satisfy you long term and it isn’t sustainable. I continued to work out daily and made what I thought were smart choices, but the scale never budged and the tape line wasn’t getting looser. I started to research different eating plans but I was so overwhelmed and confused by the end of the first day, I had no idea what to do. Do you eat carbs? Cut carbs? Are beans good or bad for you? Wait, why am I not supposed to eat apples and broccoli? I felt like all hope was gone and I was destined to look like a blob in a bikini this summer and every summer thereafter. That’s it, I was done – NO MORE TRYING TO BE HEALTHY. Then I remember that I had a friend who had recently lost a lot of weight – 55 lbs. in fact, so I texted her. She told me she was doing Weight Watchers and loved it. Wait, did she say WEIGHT WATCHERS?! Did she mean that diet that’s been around since before I can even remember and for some reason reminds me of the 80s? Yep, she did, and she was serious. So I did what every other desperate person does – I shelled out $20 and signed up.

My first impression was “well, this seems simple enough; I could have done this myself without paying the $20.” WRONG! I consumed all of my points by lunch and was eating “free foods” only for dinner. I read through all of the information, printed my free foods list and downloaded the app on my phone. The plan itself IS actually really easy to follow and the tools they provide you with make keeping track of everything super simple. They have points for everything – from beer to burgers to Starbucks, you name it, they have it. There’s a barcode scanner for prepackaged items and then the “free foods” list which you can eat off of without using any of your points. Once I got to know the program, I thought “I’m going to like this.” Since I’m still extremely new to this program, I don’t have any results to share, but plan on sharing in a week or 2 – for now I have come up with my weekly meal plan to get things started off on the right foot. So if you’re ready to shed those winter blues for summer sun and bust out that tank top/bikini/speedo/whatever you’ve wanted to wear since the first day of warm weather hit, grab your grocery cart and let’s get started! Here are 2 days’ worth of my sample meals below.

3 Point Egg Breakfast – Spinach, Tomato and Goat Cheese Egg Scramble w/Berries

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• 5 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 oz goat cheese, crumbled
• 5 strawberries, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Spray non-stick pan with WW approved cooking spray (I used Crisco no-stick 100% canola) and heat over medium heat. When pan is hot, toss in cherry tomatoes and spinach until spinach is wilted and tomatoes start to sizzle – about 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to beaten egg to taste. Add egg mixture to skillet and when the mixture begins to set, gently stir using a rubber or plastic spatula. Repeat process until eggs are the desired doneness – about 2-3 minutes. Plate scramble and top with crumbled goat cheese. Serve with 5 sliced strawberries.

3 Point Pancakes – Peanut Butter and Banana Pancakes w/ Sliced Strawberries

• 1 very ripe banana, mashed
• 2 Tbsp flour
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp PB2
• 1 egg
• Cinnamon, Vanilla – Optional

In a small mixing bowl, mash banana. Stir in flour, salt and baking powder. Once combined, stir in PB2 and cinnamon if desired. Beat egg in separate bowl, add and stir to combine adding 1 tsp vanilla if desired. Spray medium-sized non-stick skillet with WW approved cooking spray and heat over medium. Once pan is hot, pour in 1/3 of the batter to make the pancake. Once the tiny air bubbles stop forming, use a plastic spatula to flip the pancake and cook an additional 2 minutes. Repeat for pancakes 2 and 3. Serve with sliced strawberries.

5 Point Morning Snack – Nut, Fruit and Cheese Plate

• 100 calorie pack of almond/walnuts
• 1 medium apple, sliced
• 1 part skim mozzarella string cheese

Eat apple, cheese and nuts together for a crunchy and filling mid-morning snack!

6 Point Morning Snack – Caramel Apple Pie Yogurt

• 1 Yoplait Greek 100 whips, salted caramel flavor
• 1/8 cup Bare Naked Maple Pecan Granola
• 1 small apple, chopped
• Cinnamon to taste

Chop apple into small bite-size pieces and sprinkle with cinnamon. Lightly fold apple mixture into yogurt and sprinkle with granola.

5 Point Bistro Box – Easy No-Cook Lunch:

• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 small onion chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 small cucumber, chopped
• 2 small tomatoes, chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ¼ cup hummus of choice
• 1/2 bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1 small whole wheat pita or flat bread cut into triangles
• 1 small pear

Place the first 6 ingredients into food processor and pulse until combined. Place in container and store in fridge (up to 3 days) until ready to use. Toast pita and using a pizza cutter, slice pita into 6 wedges. Slice bell pepper into strips. Arrange items on plate with ¼ cup hummus of choice and homemade salsa. For extra protein, can serve with 1 boiled egg. Once boiled egg is cooled, peel, rinse and slice.

3 Point Chicken Pasta – Basil Chicken and Broccoli w/Zucchini Noodles

• 1 Smart Ones brand Creamy Basil Chicken with Broccoli
• 1 cup zucchini noodles

Buy pre-spiralized zucchini noodles OR use spiralizer to make 1 cup of noodles. Cook frozen meal 3 minutes per package instructions. Pull back film and stir in zucchini noodles. Re-cover meal and microwave an additional 1 minute 30 seconds. To up your veggie intake for only 3 more points, add a small side salad (no croutons) and 2 Tbsp Italian dressing!

2 Point Afternoon Snack – Protein Coffee and Fruit

• 1 chocolate or caramel Premier Protein shake
• .5 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
• 1 banana

Fill shaker cup with ice. Pour protein shake and coffee into cup, place lid on tight and shake until combined. Can drink as is or can be strained into separate glass. Eat banana on the side.

2 Point Afternoon Snack – Veggies and Ranch Dip

• 1/3 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
• 1 container plain greek yogurt
• Baby carrots, celery, sliced peppers

Combine 1/3 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip mix with 1 single serve container of plain non-fat greek yogurt. Serve with favorite veggies.

8 Point Grilled Supper – BBQ Chicken w/Sweet Potato and Summer Squash (serves 2)

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breast
• 4 tbsp Stubbs mesquite BBQ sauce
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 summer squash, sliced
• ½ onion sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• chipotle powder, to taste
• salt and pepper, to taste

Pre-heat grill to 400 degrees. Cut sweet potato into small cubes. Place cubes on foil, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and season with chipotle powder and salt. Fold foil so that packet is sealed and place onto grill. Place chopped veggies in a baggie with 1 tbsp olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic. Toss to coat and pour into a grill basket, placing onto grill.Brush each chicken breast with 2 tbsp bbq sauce and season with salt and pepper. Place directly onto grill.

Once chicken is on the grill, reduce heat to 350. Once the chicken has cooked halfway (will vary depending on exact heat and thickness of chicken – usually about 9 minutes), turn chicken over. Once chicken is flipped, use a metal spatula to stir vegetables. Cook approx. 9 more minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and juices flow clear. Serve each chicken breast with ½ of the sweet potato and ½ of the vegetables.

6 Point Taco Night – Shredded Chicken Tacos with Refried Beans (serves 2)

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 taco seasoning packet
• 2 Old El Paso crunchy taco shells
• 1 cup canned fat-free refried beans
• Lettuce and tomato to taste
• 4 Tbsp Pace chunky salsa
• ½ avocado, sliced

Place chicken in slow cooker with taco seasoning. Place on low for 6-8 hours. When cooked, transfer to plate and shred. Split the chicken between the 4 taco shells and top each taco with lettuce, tomato, 1 Tbsp salsa, 1/2 Tbsp cotija cheese and 1/8 of avocado. Heat refried beans in a skillet until hot. Sprinkle remaining cotija onto beans and serve. Makes 2 tacos each.

I hope you guys enjoy these recipes as much as I have. Make sure to check back in for updates on my weight loss, more sample meals and great recipes!

Weekend Home Makeovers: 4 Small Changes with Big Impact

If you’re like me, you walk in an out of your house at least 10 times a day and don’t even think twice about it. Sure, sometimes there are a few things that need to be put away or you need to dust, but most of the time you don’t really notice anything major. Then there’s THE day. The ONE day that you walk into your home and think “When did this happen?!” Your rooms look drab, the living area isn’t inviting, things are cluttered, you need more lighting and everything is just generally run down. And again, if you’re anything like me – this drives you crazy. Once I see something, I CANNOT unsee it – It has to be fixed and I mean ASAP! Unfortunately, we don’t always have the time or money top dive headfirst into large renovations to make our homes look like a picture our of Southern Living or Better Homes and Gardens. The great part? If you have 2 days and a little extra cash lying around, here are 5 projects that are light on your wallet but heavy on impact.

1. A Little Paint Goes a Long Way: Come on Ladies – get with me on this. You know when you’re having a “blah” day but then you decide to gussy up with a little makeup and instantly feel better? The same thing goes for your walls. Paint is the cosmetic base of the home reno world. It’s quick, relatively cheap and doesn’t take any special skills to apply. You can change the entire feel of your home in a matter of hours.
   • If your room feels cold and uninviting: Try using warm, rich neutrals on your walls to bring your room to life. Warm colors tend to draw a room in and make it feel more cozy than cooler colors on the spectrum. Warm colors are also more stimulating and work best in social rooms such as the living room, dining room and kitchen.
   • If your room feels cramped: Using a lighter, cooler color in a small room can make things feel more open and airy.  Cool colors tend to have more of a calming effect and should be used in rooms where you tend to relax or study – think bedrooms, bathrooms and nurseries. To make intimate places like bedrooms still feel inviting, use a cool color on the wall paired with warmer accents in your bedding and curtains.
   • If your room feels dark: There is nothing worse than a dreary feeling room. We often think the issue is lighting but tend to overlook the real culprit in the situation – the ceiling. While you may be used to that dingy off-white color, I can guarantee unless your ceiling has been painted in the last 3 years, it’s not the bright white you think it is. Painting your ceiling (whether smooth or textured) is one of THE BIGGEST changes you can make in your home. I guarantee that a fresh coat of paint will have things feeling brighter in no time. Not to mention that your ceilings will feel taller and your room will feel cleaner.
   • Stuff to know: If you’re not sure what type of paint to use or color palette to try, visit one of your big box stores for samples. Bring them home and tape them to your walls, hold them up to your furniture, lay them on the floor. Look at them at different times during the day to see how the color changes as the lighting in your home changes. I just finished painting about 1400 sf and it took 2 gallons of ceiling 1.5 gallons ceiling paint, 2 gallons of flat interior paint and 1/2 gallon +- of trim paint and 2 days. The last thing to remember about painting – if you hate it, you can change! Don’t be afraid to experiment because if you get everything painted and you absolutely hate it – you can change it back almost immediately!
     

     Photo Courtesy of Merrill and Miller, LLC

2. Rearranging and de-cluttering – Free and Freeing: I love to watch episodes of the TV show Hoarders Buried Alive. And I’m not quite sure why, but in the back of my mind while watching, I always have that “OMG! Does my house look like this?!” thought gnawing at the pit of my stomach. Let get things straight – it doesn’t. I’m fairly minimalist when it comes to my home. I like just enough stuff for things to feel “homey” but not enough that it feels cramped. Despite my best efforts sometimes things get crowded. Sometimes you buy furniture that looks normal size in the store but it feels giant when you get it home, you can’t stop the impulse buy of that cute mirror that you NEED on your wall, or you have 16 blankets lying around in various locations (don’t judge me – I get cold easily). And sometimes – sometimes you just have poor furniture arrangement (that was me for a LONG time).
   • Let’s start with the latter of the 2, decluttering: On the next cold, rainy or otherwise miserable day weather-wise, use your indoor time to go through everything from closets to your kitchen pantry. If you haven’t worn clothing items in 6 months or more, get rid of them. If there are xpired canned goods in the back of your pantry, toss them. The same goes for other household items. My general rule is that if you never use it and it has no sentimental or real monetary value – you should get rid of it. Why should you hold on to something that you don’t use that someone else might love to have? Goodwill and local shelters or charities love your gently used clothes, shoes, electronics, accessories and even furniture. The best part?! You can write your charitable donations off on your taxes! Now that being said, DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT take your ratty stuff to donate. If it’s in poor condition keep a few items under your kitchen sink as a “rag pile” for washing your car, cleaning off outside furniture, etc and toss the rest in the garbage.
   • Part 2 of decluttering: Toss old magazines, cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, etc in the garbage. Paper and cardboard are the perfect places for insects such as roaches to hide. You do not want this in your house, trust me. I know a lot of people who love to keep their shoes organized by keeping them in the boxes – do yourself a favor and get a shoe rack. You’ll stay organized but with much less chance of a bug invasion.
   • Get to moving, your furniture that is: The easiest way to rearrange is to get as much out of the room as possible to start with a blank canvas. Move in one piece of furniture at a time, generally starting with the largest piece. I like to start with my couch, then loveseat, then rug, etc and finish with my small accessories. Try several arrangements to see which gives you the best feel. Stand at the door to your room, back of the room and then sit on the furniture you have placed. When in doubt, call a friend. I often invite my mom or aunt over to get their opinion on how my arrangement feels. If it feels cramped or overbearing to your rearranging buddy, then it’s going to feel that way to your other guests as well.
   • Again, don’t be afraid to experiment. There aren’t any costs associated with this, so try as many looks as you want. Your home will look better and you’ll feel better ditching the junk. Bonus, you never know what gems you might find in the back of your decluttering phase than can be used as decor in your newly rearranged room. I found this tobacco stick star and it made a wonderfully cozy addition to country-chic decor.
3. CLEAN: I know this seems like a given – Most people clean their homes, right? Well, the answer is yes and no. Most of us give the house a good vacuum one a week or so, do the dishes, make sure toys are out of the floor and the laundry is semi-caught up. But how many of us deep clean our homes on a regular occasion? I find that a good deep cleaning 4 times per year can really change things. Your house will not only look and feel cleaner, it will smell better too…and smell can go a loooooonnng way.
   • Large solid Surfaces: Large solid surfaces are the best place to get started – think floors, walls (yes, they need to be cleaned on occasion too), baseboard, and countertops. If you have non-carpeted floors start by vacuuming floors and use the vacuum attachment on your baseboard and window sills. Use a simple multi-surface cleaner such a Windex, Lysol or Clorox wipes to sanitize and clean everything but the floor. Depending on your floor type, find the appropriate cleaner and mop (it may take 2 or 3 times to get the floor completely clean). Even though we have wood in most of the house, I actually steam mop my floors twice a year for that extra clean feel. Don’t forget the flooring behind toilets, under beds and dressers, behind your fridge or even the underside of your upper kitchen cabinets. Dust LOVES those nooks and crannies.
   • Carpet and upholstered furniture: Vacuum your carpet thoroughly – this means getting right next to the walls and baseboard, under furniture, etc. If you have any stains or spots, use an upholstery cleaner and soft brush to gently lift the stain away. The same upholstery cleaner should be safe to use on your furniture should you need to remove any stains from couches, ottomans, or chairs – just make sure to check the label and test a small spot. You can refresh most decorative pillows by spraying them with Febreeze and tossing them in the dryer for 2-5 minutes. Don’t forget to vacuum under your couch cushions! No matter how careful you are – stuff gets in those cracks!
   • Bathrooms and kitchen: Check the label, but you should be able to use the same multi surface cleaner on your countertops, sink and tub. Don’t forget to sanitize your toilet and toss that old toilet brush. Ikea has new ones for less than $2 so I buy 4 per bathroom every time I go – that way I can toss them every three months and bacteria isn’t breeding in the holder for years and years. Clean your mirrors, wipe down any decorative items, clean your microwave and sanitize the inside of your fridge, Use the self-clean function on your oven the get the inside clean with almost no effort.
   • Other items: Dust your blinds, ceiling fans and knickknacks – It’s amazing how much dust you’ll find if you’ve neglected these areas. If you notice an abnormal amount of dust or if you have animals in the house try buying an air purifier – they work wonders,especially if you have allergies. Wash your duvet and curtains, lightly wipe wooden furniture down with an allergen reducing furniture polish.
   • You’ll find that a day or 2 of cleaning will not only have your house looking and feeling clean, it will smell fresh too. There’s no bigger impact on a guest than a clean smelling home or worse – a foul-smelling one.
4. Curb Appeal: If you’ve ever watched HGTV, you’ve probably heard that term a million times. The exterior of your house is the FIRST thing someone sees when they pull up, or even as they just pass by. I’m not going to name any names, but there’s one house on the street where I live that it an absolute junk hole. They have trash overflowing, an unkempt lawn, a car on blocks – the kicker is that they actually live in a NICE HOUSE but no one can get past how bad the exterior looks!
   • Mow and trim: Most cities and counties regulate this, but don’t be the person that has to get a notice on their door before they actually do it. A well manicured lawn takes no time and as a bonus you get in a great workout if you use a push mower.
   • Plant flowers: Even if you have limited space, use flower and plants to add depth, color and interest to your landscape. Try adding hanging baskets to your porch, a colorful planter with tall decorative grass beside your front door or a bed of flowers for a pop of color against plain siding or brick. Plants not only bring beauty, but help purify the air and can aid in repelling certain insects as well.
   • Paint or Pressure Wash: Dull and chipping paint can make an otherwise nice house look old and ragged. Scrape off loose paint and make any necessary repairs to your wood siding before giving your home a fresh coat. If you have vinyl, mix a small amount of bleach and water into a sprayer and lightly mist the exterior of your home. After letting sit for approx 10 minutes, use a pressure washer (and eyewear) to remove dirt and mildew from your home.
   • Windows and Doors: Wash your windows and doors. You can change your exterior by painting your door a pop of color. Scared your shutters won’t match? Spray paint them in a complimentary color. Wash the outside of your windows thoroughly and try adding window boxes with flowers or herbs.

If you didn’t get anything else from this article – I hope you got this: Small weekend projects can make a huge difference in the feel and look of your house. You can go from house to home with a little time, effort and a few bucks. Be creative and don’t be afraid to try new things. I’ll leave you with a quote by Nate Berkus “Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.”

Small Bathroom Makeover: DIY

In my 34 (almost 35) years of existence, I can count the number of times on both hands that my parents called in professionals to work on projects around the house. Mom and Dad are like the King and Queen of DIY projects. You name it – they’ve probably done it. Small plumbing and electrical jobs, bathroom and kitchen renovations – My parents even single-handedly built an addition on to our house back in the late 80s. Truth be told, we probably wouldn’t have been able to afford those renovations if Mom and Dad hadn’t done them all themselves, so Reader’s Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself  Manual in hand, they tackled projects large and small (I still have that book on my bookshelf, by the way). I guess that’s where I get my “let’s try this ourselves” and “why pay more for someone else to do it if you can do it yourself” spirit from. That being said, here is my disclaimer: IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING ON A MAJOR OR STRUCTURAL REMODEL – DO NOT ATTEMPT IT BY YOURSELF. Yes, part of the process is learning, but you don’t want improper plumbing, electrical or structural issues! I mean, what good is that new bath tub if you have a leak that rots your floor and you fall through one day? You feel me on this?

I decided to start with the “smallest” project in the house – the guest bath. Let me just start by saying that small in room size doesn’t necessarily mean small in project size. Bathrooms are probably the hardest, most time-consuming projects you’ll ever take on. Not to mention losing that bathroom for the time it takes to do the remodel can be extremely inconvenient (we have a two bath house including the one we were remodeling – we just kept praying then entire time that neither of us ended up with viruses, food poisoning or any other condition that would cause us to need BOTH bathrooms).

Bathroom Panorama Photo – Before Remodel

 

The first steps in the remodel were demolition. “DEMO DAY!” as Chip Gaines would say. Ok, demo IS pretty fun. Since it’s an older house (circa 1979) the walls were a little uneven, there was no vent fan, the ceiling is slightly uneven – you name it, it was wrong. Even the studs weren’t evenly spaced. We did a complete gut job which actually took

Start of Demo – Panoramic

about a week. After the gut job, we replaced all of the studs and added insulation for a little extra sound proofing. The next step was to install a vent to help with the moisture issue when showering. So – we cut a hole through the ceiling and the roof of the house and voila! Vent was installed, well mostly minus wiring it all up. The next step was to replace part of the ceiling that we had to cut out, install the Sheetrock and then dope all the seams and screw holes. Sounds easy, right? Let me tell you – it’s more work than you think. After the “basics” were complete the new tile floor went in followed by the tub. We DID call in a plumber to hook up the plumbing for the tub. Then came the slow, tedious part – prepping and tiling the tub surround. If you are going to tile around your shower/tub, you MUST make sure everything is waterproof.

Tub surround painted with Aqua Defense

That means putting up cement backer board, covering all screw holes and seams with thinset and painting on a waterproof sealer (we used Aqua Defense) all before you can even get started on tiling. For the tile, we chose 3×6 size subway tile with delorean gray grout for the main walls and a tile mosaic for the inset boxes. Something to keep in mind, it takes A LOT longer to put up smaller tile because you are constantly having to make sure the rows are level and the columns are plumb and it’s A LOT easier to get off when you are putting up a row with 20 tile versus a row with 10. It took about a week to get all of the tile up and then we let it sit for about three days to ensure it was all set. During those 3 days we painted the walls, installed trim, put up a new light fixture, installed a new toilet and sink/vanity. Once we were sure the tile was secure to the walls, we began to grout, which took about 2 hours (we’re definitely not professionals). We washed the haze off the tile about 5 times and then cleaned up the lines with a razor blade.

 

                

 

Once all of the actual remodeling was complete we completed the look with an Ikea mirror, bath mat, soap dispenser and toothbrush holder, mandala elephant curtains from TJ Maxx and a canvas spray painted chrome with elephant and mandala design (courtesy of my Cricut machine) to tie it all together. We spend a total of $2260.01 for the entire project and estimate that we saved about $1000 doing it ourselves.  It took us about 6 weeks to complete the entire project since we were complete DIY newbies, but needless to say we’re extremely happy with the results. We can’t wait for our next project!

Panoramic Pic – After Remodel

After Remodel

Vertical Gardening: 5 Ways to Add Ambiance and Function to Small Spaces

I’ve been wanting to do a tutorial on building raised garden beds for the last month, but the weather just hasn’t wanted to cooperate. We’ve had constant rain followed by a warm day or two, followed by temps back in the thirties. We had the first day of spring and then got SNOW two days later. Seriously, the weather has been crazy this year! Since it’s 34 degrees and the ground is soggy, looks like the tutorial is going to have to wait again. I have decided however, to put together 5 quick ideas for small patio and deck spaces that will not only add ambiance to your area, but will yield flavorful additions to your table when the warmer weather finally arrives.  The best part about these solutions? They all require little to no assembly, so if you don’t have tools, NO PROBLEM!

1. Pocket Planters: Big things come in small packages when it comes to pocket planters. Often referred to as “edible walls,” they come in a variety of sizes, are easy to hang and maintain and require little maintenance. Unlike their pot counterparts, pocket planters allow you to plant a large quantity and variety in just one “container.” They are perfect for plants that don’t require a large root system to stay upright such a herbs, lettuces, greens, bean and pea varieties and even strawberries. Just remember that if you’re planting a variety of vegetables, you want all of them to have the same basic sun/shade requirements. If you’re not into edibles, go to beautiful colored flowers such as pansies, or liven things up with a few succulents. Not only do these allow you to grow your own produce, but can be a conversation centerpiece for guests or can even block off a bad landscape or nosy neighbors. One of my favorite larger planters can be found on Amazon. At just over $32, you can’t beat this 36 pocket beauty! Don’t forget hooks, screws or wire for hanging.
2. Trellised Planters: The concept of a trellised planter is easy, space and cost efficient. All you need is rectangular pre-fab pot with a metal trellis, which you can find at any big box store such as Walmart, Lowes or Home Depot. If you’re the handy type with about 30 minutes to spare, you can build your own with a few boards and lattice, chicken wire, old fencing or whatever you have on hand. You You can buy kits that are made out of  weather-resistant polyethylene, but they come at a premium price (usually well over $100) which generally isn’t worth it unless you have no other option. If your planter is large enough, you can plant smaller varieties of vegetables such as peppers, herbs, radishes, greens or onions in the in front and then plant your “runners” such as peas, beans or cucumbers in the back row to allow them to climb the trellis. It might take some gentle coaxing to get your plants to attach and climb, so make sure to check your plants daily. Also remember that if you’re putting this on your wooden deck, you’ll want something to catch the excess water that might run out during watering. I find that a plastic planter liner is enough to protect your porch. Like the edible wall mentioned above, these make a great centerpiece or privacy barrier. You can make them as fancy or as simple as you like. Some people even add built in benches for sitting (and who can complain about extra seating?!) – Find the instructions and materials list here!
3. Stacked Pots:  It does NOT come any easier than this folks! Stacked pots are EXACTLY what they sound like, flower pots, wash tubs, old bowls, etc that are stacked on each other to create a tiered effect. The only thing you have to worry about with this is making sure that each pot starting from the top and moving down is slightly larger than the one above it – this is what gives you planting space. You can stack as few at 2 or as many 4 or 5 to get the look you want. This is a quick and easy project that can be finished in a matter of 15 minutes or less and is the absolute most cost efficient if you’re on a budget. You can buy terracotta pots at Lowes for as cheap as .78 a piece (the prices increases slightly with size) and I’ve found them as cheap as TEN CENTS at my local yard sale or Goodwill! I suggest your pots vary in size by 2-4 inches for maximum planting space (example 12 inch, 10 inch, 6 inch for a 3 tiered planter).
4. Potato Sacks: Potato sacks are fairly specific as far as what you’ll want to grow in them – potatoes, obviously (and some other root veggies) – but if you’re a meat a potatoes kind of guy or gal, these are for you. The grow sacks come in a few different sizes and are usually made of a burlap or PE. Most have a velcro flap on the front to make your harvest easy and handles on the top in case you need to move the bag at any point. They are lightweight, take up minimal room and you can empty them out and fold them up once the growing season is over. The idea behind them is simple – Plant your potatoes and add a few inches of dirt, as the plants start to grow, add a few inches of dirt at a time until eventually the bag is full. Some bags boast that you can grow as many as 50lbs of potatoes – I don’t know about you, but I find that pretty amazing. Potatoes also store well, so you’ll have a supply to last for weeks or months with this handy little planter.
5. Hanging Baskets:  Last but not least, and probably the most obvious choice are hanging baskets. I love that these have become more of a “trend” over the last few years and you can now find a variety that are not only useful, but absolutely beautiful as well – And you don’t have to go to hardware stores to find them. There are stunning finds at discount stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx, Ikea and even Dollar General. There are numerous tutorials online to make your own macrame hangers – Like this one here. I absolutely love that they are no longer “your grandmothers” front porch decor and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Some of my favorite are these brightly colored colanders (right) that seem to add instant cheer to any porch or patio. Plant your strawberries, tomatoes, herbs and more in these hanging wonders and enjoy the ambiance and instant curb appeal they add to your home. Don’t forget that hanging baskets tend to dry out rather quickly, so you’ll need to check the soil every day or two to ensure they don’t dry out.

I hope these fun and easy projects add a little beauty and purpose to your outdoor living space. I can’t wait to be able to share my personal experience in building new raised beds with you soon. Check back next week for an update on my now FINISHED guest bath remodel!

Apologies

I would like to apologize for not posting last Thursday and not giving any updates until now. Our sweet senior kitty, Sammie had been diagnosed with kidney failure several months ago and despite our best efforts, her health continued to decline. We knew last week that we only had a few days left with her, so we made the best of  them and had a “bucket list” kind of week. She drank milk and ate tuna/salmon/turkey and anything else her heart desired (We were desperate to get calories into her and the vet said it was ok), we played with her toy mouse and spend countless hours outside in the sun. We’re lucky enough to have a catio, which is enclosed and covered, but in her last few days, Sammie deserved REAL outdoor time. She felt the grass beneath her feet, layed on soft moss, swatted at a few insects flying by. She never ventured more than a few feet away, but looked more at peace than she had in months. Closing her eyes and feeling the sun on her face, flopping over on her side to let the warm rays hit her belly. I think being outside and watching her enjoy the last few days of her life was as therapeutic for us as it was for her. Sweet Sammie passed away on Saturday morning after 12 short years on this earth. She will forever be loved and missed.

Be sure to check back in a few hours for a BRAND NEW post!

No Gym? No Problem! 5 FREE YouTube Channels to GET YOU MOVING!

You may know from reading my bio (or following my Instagram account that I used to stay accountable for my journey) that I recently decided to make fitness a top priority in my life.

I had always a healthy weight and in fairly good shape, but when I started a stressful job back in 2014, my hard work went out the window and my weight sky rocketed. I remember the day I couldn’t button my “fat” jeans. I also remember the day that I had to pretend I was sick and had a slight cough to hide the fact that I couldn’t make it from the parking deck up to the 2nd floor of my building without being super winded. I was embarrassed and ashamed I had let myself go that downhill. I used to wonder “do people not realize they are gaining weight?” Well, the answer is “yes” and “no.” Of course you realize you’re gaining weight when the scale is going up and your clothes start to “shrink,” but when you’re gaining a pound or two per week, it’s easy to overlook or think “well, I just gained a pound, no big deal!” Well, it’s not a big deal until you’ve consistently gained one pound per week for an entire year and now you’re 52 pounds heavier than you were.

When I quit my job at the end of November 2017, I started to workout again not to be thin, but just to be in good health. Working out makes me feel happier, my chronic reflux has gone away, and I’ve shed a few pounds in the process. I am lucky enough that even on one income, we can still afford a gym. I do, however, have had several people tell me that they can’t workout because they either don’t have access to a gym, can’t afford to go or they can’t workout until the kids are in bed. Look, you don’t NEED the gym to get in shape. There’s Pinterest, YouTube, you can just walk around your neighborhood or run up and down the stairs in your house. If you have a parking deck at work or nearby, start and the bottom and go up and down several times. When you get to the top do lunges, squats, jumping jacks! Don’t ever let the inability to go to a gym keep you from your fitness goals. Here are 5 of my personal favorite YouTube Channels to get you on your way to a leaner, fitter, healthier you (Sample videos included)!

• Dance Fitness with Jessica: This girl knows how to SHAKE IT! And you will too after you watch her videos. Jessica choreographs dances for popular songs – Hip Hop, Pop, Country, etc – She covers all genres. Her channel is broken down into 3 different sections for dance cardio: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. She even has a core and abs section for those of you wanting to work on your mid-section before bikini season rolls around. Who would have thought I’d be doing a Cha-Cha Slide ab workout on my living room floor at 10 pm at night. The beginner videos are a little slower with more direction and the intermediate and advance are slightly quicker paced and a little more technical. Most are 3-5 minutes, so you’ll have to do several different ones to get in a full workout.  Overall, I give this channel at 9/10 for fun and quick cardio and core. Find Dance Fitness with Jessica HERE.

• Blogilates: Cassey Ho is another favorite of mine. If you want a variety of difference types of workouts, this is the place to get them. Cassey’s Blogilates channel has everything from abs to arms to legs to cardio. Most of her videos are beginner friendly or allow for modification, but are definitely strenuous enough to give you a good workout. The best part about Blogilates is that Cassey makes it easy by offering a FREE monthly printable calendar. The calendar tells you which workouts to do on which day. If you sign up for emails you also get a free weekly shopping list and meal plan, habit tracker and 30 day water challenge. You can sign up on her site HERE.  She also has lots of recipes and interesting blog posts about life and fitness. Check here out at Blogilates.com

• The Fitness Marshall: I first saw The Fitness Marshall watching a locally filmed show called My Big Fat Fabulous Life with national No Body Shame Campaign creator Whitney Way Thore (Catch it every Tuesday on TLC) and decided to check out his page. If you want another dance/cardio style workout and don’t mind feeling a bit silly, The Fitness Marshall is SO MUCH FUN. When I say silly, I don’t mean the workouts are a joke, because you’ll seriously sweat after doing a few of his dances. It’s a bit silly because of the way he describes his dance moves. So for example, most people would say “cross your arms and shoulder shrug.” Fitness Marshal uses terms like “Pretend you’re in the refrigerator….and shiver, shiver, shiver” I’ve also heard him describe moves like “do the go-go dancer” and “slap that booty, shake them boobies.” His dances are a little fast, so if you’re a slow learner or have 2 left feet, you might want to check out his Tutorial Channel called “Basic Training.” The great part is that he posts new moves every week to keep you on your toes and off the couch. Find The Fitness Marshal HERE.

• POPSUGAR Fitness: Much like Blogilates, if you want a variety of workouts ranging from low impact barre to fat burning HIIT, this is the place for you. POPSUGAR Fitness has a plethora of videos to get you where you want to be. The categories are broken down into 30-Minute, Beginners, Abs, Butt, Full-Body and No-Equipment Cardio. What makes this channel different is that they pull-in and offer trending and popular YouTube workouts from other Vloggers (like some of those mentioned in this article) . If you want to check out a workout style or host but don’t want to sort through a multitude of channels and end up watching videos of cats, this is the place for you. Whether you want a quick 5 minute booty workout to get that perfect peach or punch out some of that stress with kickboxing, this page has it.  Head on over and check out POPSUGAR Fitness HERE.

• Fitness Blender: Fitness Blender is a long-running site run by fit couple Daniel and Kelli. They offer over FIVE HUNDRED full length videos for FREE. Two of my FAVORITE things about this channel is that it doesn’t feel like it’s catering to JUST women AND they have great short challenges. This is a great site if you’re a man, or if you’re a female and want your male partner to get involved. Because let’s face it, a lot of men feel weird doing dance videos, but they’ll jump on the chance to do some weights. Along with being more male friendly, the weights also give you the chance to work on your strength and toning. The short challenges are also fantastic – they offer several 3 and 5 day ones. I find that the shorter ones seems to be more attainable because you can squeeze them into to your week A LOT easier than some of the 30 day ones you’ll find elsewhere. And doesn’t finishing a challenge just make you feel great about yourself? Like “I started something AND finished it!” To find their YouTube Channel, click HERE or head on over to their site https://www.fitnessblender.com to search by length, calorie burn, type or equipment needed. Added plus, they also have FREE recipes! Check them out today!

I hope these five sites will help you get on track for your fitness and weight-loss journeys. Whether you want to fit into that bikini this summer or just not have to suffer the embarrassment of not being able to walk up the stairs at work, these sites are sure to have you on your way. Remember, stay positive and never let your situation keep you from the greatness you deserve. Check back every Thursday for new posts (hopefully a tutorial on building raised garden beds once the snow we have clears) and follow me on Instagram to support my own fit journey.

 

Fun Indoor Growing Experiments for Kids (Or Yourself)

We’re officially into March and only 19 short days away from spring! Weather in the Piedmont-Triad of North Carolina has been a mix of beautiful and nasty all rolled into one for the last 2-3 weeks. We’ve had stretches of rain for 2-3 days at a time with temps in the 40’s followed by a beautiful 70 degree day which isn’t quite long enough to make you forget about the cold and the rain, but nice enough to remind you that spring is coming. I love spring – flowers bloom, temps rise and for most of us without greenhouses, it’s the official start of garden season! In Zone 7, you can start planting your spring crops of beets, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, spinach and most varieties of lettuce. To find your zone, Click here! Unfortunately for me and most others around here, the ground is too wet to plow right now. We need a few warm and windy days to dry it out enough to get the plow in the ground without getting the tractor stuck – or sinking 2-3 inches every time you step onto the ground for that matter.

Even though I can’t go out and plant right now, it doesn’t mean that I can’t have a little growing fun inside! Windowsill containers are the perfect way to get your kids (or yourself) excited about the coming planting season AND lets you re-use some of those veggie scraps you would normally throw away. You probably pay a dear price for those vegetables during the Winter months,so why not get a 2 for 1 on your investment?! I’ve listed a few of my favorite projects below. Each has a materials list and instructions.

Celery

Materials:

Celery Growth – Day 3

• 1 bunch of celery with the bottom attached
• Sharp knife
• Cutting Board
• Glass or plastic container
• Water

Instructions: Place the celery on your cutting mat and cut the stalks off leaving a base approximately 2 inches tall. Place the celery bottom in your container and fill with water to approximately 1/3 of the height of your remaining base. Place the container in a sunny location or windowsill and wait for the magic to happen (usually just 3-4 days). Once you begin to see new growth, transfer to a planter or pot that is filled with potting soil. You want the soil to be damp, but ensure there is adequate drainage. Celery is ready to harvest once the new growth is at least 3 inches tall. Once the stalks mature, you should be able to pull the entire plant up and re-grow again!

Romaine Lettuce

Lettuce – Placed in Water

Materials:

• 1 head romaine lettuce
• cutting board
• sharp knife
• glass or plastic container
• water

Instructions: Place the romaine on cutting board and cut the leaves leaving the base approximately 2 inches tall. Place the base in container and fill with approximately 1 inch water. Place in a sunny, warm area. In 2-3 days you should start to see growth from the center of the base. You can choose to leave the lettuce in the container until the leaves are large enough to harvest OR you can plant them in a well draining pot. Keep in mind that you won’t get a full head of lettuce as you would if you planted from seeds, but you will have enough to garnish your sandwich or make a small salad.

Green Onion

Growth – Day 1

Materials:

• 1 bunch green onions
• kitchen scissors
• glass or plastic container
• water

Instructions: Snip the dark green shoots from the base of the onion, leaving the white base of the onion intact. If you prefer to use a sharp knife for this, lay the bunch of onions on a cutting board and slice the green shoots from the base of the onion, leaving the base intact. I tend to find that snipping them is easier with scissors – but that’s a personal preference. Place the onion bottoms in your container and fill with approximately 1 inch of water. These babies grow FAST! You’ll be able to full re-grow them in about 5 days in just water alone. You can keep snipping and reusing them for 2-3 weeks this way before they get slimy. The best method is to plant in a container or outside in well-draining soil once they are about a week old. Keep snipping them about once weekly and you’ll have an almost endless supply of green onion.

Green Beans

For this experiment, you won’t be re-growing green beans from scrap (although it would be awesome if you could!), but you will be able to watch the seeds germinate and grow! The best part, it only takes a few materials to get started.

Green Bean Seeds Placed Into Bag

Materials:

• green bean seed
• plastic baggies
• paper towels
• water
• potting soil

Instructions: Dampen paper towel with warm water and place into sandwich bag. Sprinkle in 2-3 green bean seeds and place in a warm and sunny windowsill. Check the baggies daily to ensure that the beans are starting to sprout (approximately 3 days if conditions are right). Keep in mind if the temperature drops drastically at night or you have a few rainy/cloudy days, it can take longer. Once the beans have sprouted and you see leaves, you can transplant your plants to a container outside OR you can add a little soil to your baggy and place outside on a warm patio or deck.

I hope you and your family enjoy these simple gardening experiments. With a little luck and a green thumb, not only will you have a fun learning experience, but the chance to enjoy a few fresh vegetables as well! Other fun experiments to try are growing pineapple, potatoes and even ginger! The possibilities are endless!

Onion – Day 3, Celery – Day 3, Lettuce – Day 1

Grocery Haul and Sample Meal Plan 1

Am I the only person that ever decides to make a quick last-minute trip to the grocery store without a list and then comes out with like $347932493243890 worth of groceries? I’m always thinking “HOW?! What did I buy?!” When I go to the store without a list and certain meals in mind, I not only spend more, but I buy more junk food than normal. I think it’s because I have to quickly inventory what I THINK we have in the house and then try to come up with meal ideas off the top of my head. It never fails that I’ll buy things I already have a home, not buy things that we need (which leads to ANOTHER trip out), and then we end up eating out half the week because I bought random items that can’t be made into an actual meal (yeah, pizza rolls, bacon and asparagus aren’t exactly a well-balanced dinner). One of the absolute best things that I have learned to do is sit down and take 30 minutes per week to meal plan, inventory my pantry and fridge and make a grocery list. The 2nd best thing I’ve learned to do is to meal prep for the week. Meal planning helps me save money and time. Meal prepping helps me save time and also keeps me in line since I don’t have the “I didn’t know what to pack for lunch so I should just go out” excuse.

Inventory and meal planning doesn’t have to be some difficult or overly organized process, in fact, mine usually is an array of stick notes or just a list on a scrap piece of paper.  It seriously takes me less than 30 minutes. That being said, I DO follow the 21 Day Fix diet plan by Beach Body regardless of if I’m doing the accompanying workouts or going to the gym. The meal plan is pretty simple – It’s essentially a 40/30/30 (carbs, protein, healthy fats) plan where you use color coded containers to measure your food. Since I’m still a little chunky I still have a little more to love, I’m on the 1800 calorie plan.

The List

I Sat down on Monday (we were out of town until Monday night) and made my plan for the week. Tuesday morning I was off to Sams Club with my list in hand, ready to shop. I typically split my shopping between Wal-Mart and Sams because they tend to be slightly cheaper than the other grocery stores we have here in town. I have planned for 2 weeks worth of groceries. My list was as follows:

• Chicken Breast
• Chicken Quarters
• Salmon
• Greek Yogurt
• Eggs
• Milk

• Spinach
• Hummus
• Peanut Butter
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Grapes

• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Celery
• Peppers
• Carrots

 

 

 

 

My grocery haul for the week(s) I spent $112.02!

Along with the groceries I bought, I did have a few items on hand such as  1 bunch asparagus, 4 sweet potatoes, a package of string cheese, 1 bag of apples, 3 onions, oats, tortillas, walnuts and rice. I spent $112 and came out with over 13 lbs of chicken and 3 lbs of Salmon!

Sample Meal Plan for 1 week (2 people)

These groceries are meant to last for 2 weeks or more. My meal plan and prep is simple. I find that eating basically the same thing every day makes like easier. If you don’t like that concept, try switching 1 or 2 of the snacks up, or try alternating your breakfast, etc.  I prep all of my snacks at the beginning of the week. I also prep most of my lunches and breakfasts for the week as well.

Breakfast, lunch, snacks for the day

Breakfast 1 – Oat Bowl with Spinach and Eggs:

• 1/4 cup oats cooked with water, salt, pepper
• 1 cup steamed spinach
• 2 eggs any style
• Salt, Pepper, Hot sauce – to taste

Breakfast 2 – Hash with Eggs:

• 1/2 sweet potato
• 1 cup peppers/onions/spinach (proportioned any way you like)
• 2 eggs
• Salt/Pepper to taste
• Chipotle powder, optional.

Cut the sweet potato into small cubes and cook over medium heat in 1 tbsp olive oil with pepper, and onion. When tender, wilt in spinach.  Serve with 2 eggs, any style. If you want a nice smoky and semi-spicy flavor, try cooking the veggie mixture with ground chipotle pepper.

Snacks:

• 1 cup mixed berries or grapes
• 1 small apple with 2 tbsp peanut butter
• 1 cup carrots/celery with 2 tbsp hummus

Lunch 1 – Chicken Salad:

• 3/4 cup shredded chicken
• 3/4 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1 cup grapes, quartered
• 1/3 cup walnuts (about 8 halves)
• Celery
• Salt, pepper – to taste
• Optional: Curry powder, Taco seasoning, buffalo sauce
• String Cheese
• 5 Whole Wheat Crackers

On prep day, cook chicken breast (enough for the week) in slow cooker on high heat with salt, pepper, and preferred spices. Combine top 5 ingredients and stir to mix, adding salt and pepper to taste. For a different flavor, try adding one of the optional ingredients per day. Serve with 5 whole wheat crackers and 1 string cheese.

Lunch 2 – Chicken Wrap, Yogurt with Berries/Nuts

• 4 oz chicken breast, cooked
• 1 flour tortilla
• 1/3 cup cheese, shredded
• Spinach and tomatoes (as much as you like)
• Mustard (or preferred low sugar, low fat condiment such as hot sauce, buffalo sauce, etc)
• 3/4 greek yogurt
• 1 cup berries (swap your berries for grapes during snack time today)
• 1/3 cup walnuts
• Optional: Drizzle of honey

Spread mustard (or preferred condiment) on tortilla. Slice chicken and add to tortilla with shredded cheese, spinach and tomatoes. Roll tightly. Sprinkle berries and walnuts and drizzle with honey.

Dinner:

Ok, I like to keep the idea of my dinners simple. I always start with a salad that is approximately 2 cups of veggies. For the main portion, I have 8 oz lean meat (I save 2 of my red 21df containers for dinner), 1 cup vegetables and 1/4 cup carbs. I just rotate through whatever meat/veggies I have for that week. The easiest way to add variety is to switch up your cooking methods (grilling, roasting, sauteing) and your spices. Here’s an example of 2 meals I am having this week. While I DO keep my breakfast/lunches the same, I NEVER repeat dinners more than once a week to maintain variety.

Dinner 1 – Salmon with Sweet Potato and Asparagus

• 1 lb salmon
• 1 sweet potato
• 1/2 bunch asparagus (about 10 spears)
• Low sodium/low sugar teriyaki sauce (OR use what you have on hand to make a simple sauce – I mixed together 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp sriracha, 1 tbsp chopped garlic, a sprinkle of ground ginger and 2 tbsp honey because it’s what i had in the pantry)

Preheat oven to 400. Cut salmon into 2 – 8 oz portions. Spread teriyaki or homemade sauce over top of salmon and place in oven. Trim asparagus and season well with olive oil, salt and pepper. Once Salmon has been in oven for approx 5 minute, place asparagus in oven – Cook for 15 minutes. While the salmon and asparagus are cooking, wash and dry sweet potato. Prick several times with a fork and microwave 5-8 minutes depending on size. Halve the sweet potato and serve with salmon and asparagus. Don’t forget your salad!!!

Dinner 2 – Rustic Roasted Chicken, Rice, Carrots

• 2 chicken leg quarters
• 1/2 cup rice (yields 1 cup cooked)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup carrots
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. seasoning salt
• 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400. Cook rice according to instructions on bag. Drizzle baby carrots with 1 tbsp olive oil and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.  Place in oven. While rice and carrots are cooking, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium high heat in cast iron or oven safe skillet. Combine spice in small bowl. Pat chicken quarters dry with a paper towel and liberally rub with spice mixture. Once oil is hot, place skin side down. Cook approx 5 minutes, or until skin is browned.  Flip chicken to skin side up and place in oven for 35-40 minutes, or until juices run clear. Enjoy your salad while the main course is cooking, Once done, plate a serve.

These are just a sample of the meals we’ll be having over the next few weeks. We’ll also enjoy dishes such as chicken tacos, Asian style stirfy, lemon-dill salmon, oat muffins and more! Meal planning and prepping not only saves time, but money too! If you want to follow a similar diet or plan, I highly encourage the 21 day fix plan (find it on Pinterest and no, I’m not associated with Beach Body), but there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Make sure you calculate your calories for your own weight – again, I’m a little on the heavier side still and am doing the 1800 calorie plan
2. The diet assumes you are burning 400 calories per day per workout (7 days a week) – Make sure you are working out! If not, you will need to adjust your plan.

More meal plans, grocery lists and recipes in the weeks to come. Sign up for emails and check the blog every Thursday for new posts!

 

 

Life Lessons from the Garden

The better understanding you have of life, the better life you will have. Growing up we look to parents, teachers and friends for knowledge and answers to many of life’s questions. As an adult, I have found that life’s lessons can be learned in many different ways. Since I’m a garden lover, I often use my garden and plants as analogies for life. If you can relate to something, you can often better understand it. Below are my top 6 life lessons I have learned from gardening.

1. You Reap What You Sow: A lot of you may know this, but some may not – This is actually a verse from the bible. Corinthians 9:6 from the NIV reads “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”  If you plant a squash, you aren’t going to harvest a tomato. If you plant your garden and never give it water or attention, it isn’t going to produce the way it would if you tended to it. From this, we learn that what you put into something is what you will receive in turn. If you’re a caring and generous person, people will be caring and generous to you in return. If you spread negatively, negativity will follow you.
2. Bigger Isn’t Always Better: It never fails that every year I’ll miss picking a cucumber before it’s too large. I’ll pull back the leaves and find a large green mass that more closely resembles a  football than a vegetable. Every year I tell myself “it’ll be fine, I’ll just use the part that’s good” only to realize for the millionth time that NONE of it is edible. It’s pithy and seedy and just no good. In life sometimes we want the expensive wedding, the big house and to be the person with a large circle of friends, but is bigger necessarily better? Like the bad cucumber, would you rather have 10 acquaintances or 2 close and supportive friends? Is the larger house worth the larger payment and less in your bank account? Does putting on the big and expensive wedding make your marriage any better than the marriage of someone who eloped? Just remember, if the cucumber would have been picked when it was a moderate size, it would have been 100x better than before it was too large.
3. Life Isn’t Always Fair, Learn to Move On: You spent $100 on seeds and plants. You carefully watered, fertilized and hoed your garden until the plants were up. Your neighbor also has a garden, but hardly every works in it – it’s a mess. Unlike your neighbor, you poured your literal sweat into making your garden the healthiest and most productive it’s ever been – Then one morning you wake up to find that the deer have grazed your plants down to mere nubs but they didn’t touch your neighbor’s plants. Your plants are dead, you’re out money, time and hard work and you’re upset. Why did they ruin MY garden? Why didn’t they touch the neighbor’s plants? Life isn’t always fair. Sometimes we put 100% of ourselves into something and get nothing in return. We see co-workers get the promotions that we deserved. We have friends that make more money than us and neighbors that have nicer cars than us. Does this mean that we’ve done something wrong? Does this mean we’re stuck? No. Just because the deer mowed down your plants doesn’t mean you can’t try again next year. Just because the neighbor’s plants were touched this year doesn’t mean he’ll have success down the road. Don’t let things that are out of your control affect you negatively. Use them as learning experience and move on.
4. Seasons Come and Go: Have you ever seen an apple tree go through all of the seasons? Maybe you have one in the field near your house or you pass by an orchard on the way to work every day. When the first signs of spring start, green leaves and flower will start to appear. By the time summer rolls around the flowers have turned into tiny apples and the leaves look vibrant and green. When summer ends and fall begins the apples will grow and ripen. The fruit will sweeten and fall to the ground. When all the fruit is gone and the cold winter weather arrives, the tree loses its leaves and goes dormant. In some ways, the tree looks dead, but it is very much alive. Every year the tree goes through changes. Some years it will produce more fruit than others, some years it will be pruned back, other years it will be forgotten and its’ fruit will spoil. Life is very much like the seasons and we are the tree. As time passes we are constantly growing and changing. We go through phases of productivity, time when we need to cut things back or cut people out of our live and even moments when life seems stagnant. Just remember that like the tree, we are constantly changing and adapting to life around us. If you’re in a tough spot, things are likely to change. If you miss out on one opportunity, another will come. Life is ever-changing and so are you.
5. Be the Root Instead of the Leaf: With plants we typically only think about what is above ground and don’t pay as much attention to what is under the ground. When in reality, what is under the ground – the roots, are the most important part of the plant. In life, you can categorize most people into 3 categories – Leaves, Branches and Roots. The Leaves are the people who might come into your life for a short time. They are what I like to call the “good time friends.” They are the people that will stick around when the going is good, but in tough times may disappear. You also have the Branches. Branches are the people that are in your life for a longer period and are slightly more supportive than the Leaves. While the branches may be more sturdy than the leaves, they are still fragile enough to break in the wind is strong enough. Then there are the Roots. The Roots are the people that are in it for the long haul. They are there for the good, the bad and the ugly. They support and love you know matter what and they keep you grounded. The roots will help you hold your ground through any storm and they will nourish you to help you grow into a better person. Would you rather be the Leaf or the Root
6. Even Flowers Must Grow Through Dirt: Flowers are by far one of the most beautiful natural creations. They bud and bloom – they have a sweet aroma that pleases the senses. Flowers are beautiful, but to become that way, they have to grow through dirt. The seed has to grow and push its way through the weight of the earth. It has to use the dirt as a nutrient to grow and flourish. In life, the dirt that holds us down are the everyday struggles we go through. Like the flower though, we must push through the struggles and use them as learning experiences to grow and flourish.

Do any of you have important lessons you’ve learned from nature? What are your top life lessons that are essential to daily living? I’d love to hear from you, please leave a comment below.

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