Won't You Be My Valentine?

Two days of snow, with more in the forecast, means my calendar squares for this week have pretty much been wiped clean.  That's the thing I love most about snow days, the opportunity to stay home and do something unscheduled.  Sitting by the window watching the flakes come down, with a cup of tea and a knitting project or a good book are some of my favorite snow day activities.  But this is Valentine's week, so I've been putzing around doing other things for some special people that I love.

In the recent issue of the Martha Stewart magazine, a crafting project caught my eye.  I'm not much of a crafter, but this looked easy enough for me to handle.  Fabric envelopes in pretty patterns,  to use for tucking in a heartfelt note or maybe even a gift certificate.  This would be a perfect way to use up some scrap fabric, but since I don't sew very often, I didn't have anything that seemed suitable.  I found these fabric quarters at Michael's and the colors seemed perfect for Valentine's Day.

The first thing I did was iron the material.

Next, I carefully took apart an envelope to use as a pattern.

I painted Mod Podge on both sides of the fabric (the messy part),

and hung them up to dry.

The next day, I traced around the envelope on the wrong side of the fabric.

Then I cut out the fabric envelopes.

Using the paper envelope as a guide, I folded the fabric, creasing the edges into the center.

With a little more Mod Podge, I sealed the flaps together, placing a piece of wax paper inside the fabric envelope, until the glue dried.

I took out the wax paper and voila!  Pretty fabric envelopes.

Latest Reads

Ok, it's time to share some of my latest reads.  I tend to forget to do this and then I have a huge stack, and the thought of reviewing the books is overwhelming, so I just don 't do it.  This year however, I'm going to try to do this every couple of months, and it will be easier.  I get my list of "must read" books from the recommendations of others (you might see your name in this post), when titles are dropped in conversation, on favorite blogs and sometimes on Goodreads (when I remember to go there).  I love listening to Fresh Air on NPR, because Terry Gross often interviews an author, promoting his or her latest work.  I won't even tell you how many stacks of books are placed strategically all over my house, books that are waiting to be read.  I couldn't put them all in one place, because that would just be embarrassing, and my husband already thinks I'm a little obsessed.  However, this doesn't prevent me from adding something new to the Amazon cart if it sounds good.  I've also started pulling a previously read book off my bookshelf and adding it to the rotation. I'm trying to decide what needs to stay and what needs to go, because even I am beginning to realize there is only so much room in a house for books.  A good book won't make the cut.  It has to be a great book, that will be read again, for it to take up space on my bookshelves.  I have some classics that are the exception to that rule.  These are books that I hope I will "grow into".  A friend of mine recently reminded me, that in order to really understand a book, you have to read it more than once.  I have some that I think might take three or four readings, for me to begin to understand them.  But even if an initial reading brings only an introduction to a new thought, then it's been worth my time.  I think I'm better off than I would've been had I not read it in the first place.  Although, Lolita comes to mind and I think I would've been better off not to read that one.  Whew!  It may be a classic, but it was very disturbing. 

Even though I may have a bent towards a certain style of book ( like historical fiction), I try to throw a book in from time to time that might not be something I would ordinarily read. Gretchin Rubin's book club is good for this.  She is the author of the The Happiness Project and Happier at Home (both excellent books) and she offers an eclectic mix of suggestions each month.  I've linked all the books to Amazon, so you can learn more about them and maybe even decide you want to read one yourself.  You're welcome.

Okay, so here we go.  This is the second time I've read , Cry the Beloved Country (pulled this one from the bookshelf), and I loved it even more the second time around.  It's a fiction classic that takes place in South Africa.  Be prepared to have your heart strings tugged, or maybe ripped out, as you read about a Zulu pastor and his son Absalom, whose lives are affected by the injustices of apartheid.  There's a glossary at the back of the book that's helpful in understanding the Zulu and Afrikaner words.  The author's description of the geography of the area is so rich, I felt like I could see it for myself. My copy of this book is heavily underlined, there's so much good stuff here.  It's not light reading, but it's important reading.

I already mentioned Between the Lines back here, so I won't go into too much detail.  This was my spiritual pick for the month and I read it in the mornings, along with my scriptures.  Joseph Fielding McConkie is a gifted LDS scholar and this book has chapter after chapter of ideas on how to glean more from your time in the scriptures.  He says, "scriptures are meant to be read, consistently, in context and with the Spirit.  We cannot be blessed by principles we do not live; and we cannot live principles we do not know."  Not only does he share techniques on how to better understand the scriptures, but he pulls texts from their pages to demonstrate what he is teaching.  My favorite McConkie quote is, "The best commentary on scripture is scripture."   A great read for any student of the scriptures.

I love kid lit, and read quite a bit of it.  This month I read two great books.  Don't let the size of Wonderstruck fool you (626 pages), it's a quick read.  Over half of the book is illustrations, which draws you into the story as much as the prose. I think my sister Cindy, recommended this one a while back and I'm just now getting to it.  It may be the best book I've read about the challenges facing the  hearing impaired.  Interestingly enough the other book I read,  The Silent Boy, was about another young boy, this one, facing life with autism at the turn of the century.  Although that term isn't used in the book, today we would recognize it as such.  Unless you've had experience with either of these conditions, you might find yourself like me, appreciating the opportunity to see through a new lens. Lois Lowry, the author of The Silent Boy also wrote, The Giver, another one of my favorites.   

My nonfiction read was Boundaries.  I wish I had read this years ago.  Although the life of hard knocks has taught me a few things about learning to set boundaries, it would have been helpful to have learned the principles in this book an easier way.  And yes, I am one of those people who can learn from the mistakes of others.  I don't necessarily have to go through it myself, like some people do.   The book begins by discussing what boundaries are and why we need them.  Then the authors go into the possible conflicts that exist in families, at work, with friends and even with God and yourself, when boundaries are ignored.  The last part of the book teaches you how to set healthy boundaries.  I can think of a number of people who would benefit from reading this book and I may have to buy a few extra copies to hand out.  I know it's helped me and will be one that doesn't get pushed back on a shelf, but will remain on my desk to be used as needed.

I saved the best for last.  Thanks to Cindy, a Facebook friend, who recommended this last fall, I read and loved What Alice Forgot.   This was a "just for fun" fiction, that was just that, fun!  Once I started it, I didn't want to put it down. I had a few late nights until this one was completed.  When Alice falls and bumps her head during an exercise class, she wakes up to find she's lost the memory of the last ten years of her life.  Surprise, frustration and pain are the results of her quest to understand the person she has become and she struggles to pick up where she's left off, especially with her relationships.  I found myself asking a lot of questions as to what my life would be like if the events of the last ten years were erased from my memory.  How would that effect my relationships?  This book seemed to me to be all about relationships, about grace and forgiveness, with yourself and others.  It reminded me of the movie Regarding Henry, with Harrison Ford, which if you haven't seen it, you should put it on your Netflix list immediately.  I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at the character he plays in this flick, which is completely unlike his other roles.

Okay, now it's your turn.  I'd love to hear what you've been reading.  Please share! 

28 Days Later - Thoughts on the Fast Metabolism Diet

Well, my first 30 Day Challenge of 2014 is behind me.  Since I was having a hard time getting my pants buttoned after the holidays, I knew I needed to shed some weight.  Going on a diet is not something I look forward to, and believe me,  I've had some experience with it over the years.  A person like me, who loves food, I mean, really, loves food, often struggles with keeping a proper balance.  And because of that struggle, there are times when you just have to do what you gotta do, mainly stop eating so much of the wrong things.  

I chose the Fast Metabolism Diet because I had watched friends successfully lose weight by following it, and because I liked the methods the author uses to help reset a sluggish metabolism, which I was quite sure I had.  All natural, whole foods make up the diet.  No weird overly processed diet foods, liquid shakes or bars.   No drops under the tongue or pills.  No counting calories or points.  Just lots of eating good, healthy food.

I bought the book and read it cover to cover, studying and preparing for a new way of eating.  There are a number of recipes in the book, but you know me, I wanted the additional cookbook, with more recipes.  People who love food, also love cookbooks.  Between the two books, I had more than enough new dishes to try and ended up enjoying every one of them.

The first week was the hardest.  I felt as though I was reading or thinking about food, shopping for food, prepping food, cooking food or eating food, nonstop, every waking moment.  By the end of the week, it was making even me, the food lover that I am, a little crazy.  To say the first week is intense might be an understatement.

I was never hungry, because you have to eat every three to four hours.  I loved that about the diet, but after a while I was tired of eating.  Imagine that.  I found it was imperative to be very organized and plan all of my meals and snacks in advance.  At the beginning of the week, I would take out all the vegetables, prep them and put them in bags.  This was a convenience that was worth the effort.  

On this diet, you focus on eating fruit and whole grain carbs (like oatmeal and brown rice), along with lean protein on Monday and Tuesday.  Wednesday and Thursday is heavy on lean protein and low glycemic vegetables (no carbs or fruit), and was the most challenging phase of the diet for me.  But it only lasted two days each week.  On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I could eat some foods from Phase 1 and 2 (Monday- Thursday), but also add in healthy fats, like olive oil, hummus, salmon, avocados.  I lived for the weekends. Then it started all over again with Phase 1 on Monday.  Twenty eight days of following this eating plan and your body begins to reset how it metabolizes food for fuel.   According to the author, it begins to believe you will feed it regularly and well, therefore, it doesn't need to hold onto the food your giving it, for fear it might not get any again for a while.  The extra weight starts to come off.  It amazes me that you can eat this much food, and still lose weight.

After the first week, I got into a little groove with my meal plans and things became easier.  I could remember the foods that were allowed each day and didn't have to rely on the book so much.  I made hummus for the weekends, boiled eggs to have for snacks, kept veggies and fruits prepped and ready to go, cooked a big pot of steel cut oats and divided them into single servings, oven roasted sweet potatoes and used them in all kinds of ways.  I bought the family size container of spinach and fresh salsa from Sam's. I also discovered that I liked sprouted grain bread and tortillas, brown rice pasta, quinoa, chicken sausage, cashew butter and kale chips.  I quickly found out that I did not like turkey bacon, at all.  I used lots of peppers in every shade, along with onions.  Oh, and mushrooms.  I ate a lot of mushrooms.  My husband wasn't a fan of some of the things I was eating, but he loves baked potatoes and would happily eat one for dinner every night.  No, I didn't feed him a baked potato for dinner every night, but no matter what I prepared for him, he never complained.  He's as low maintenance when it comes to food, as I am high maintenance. 

 I tried to focus on all the delicious foods I could have, rather than the things I could not, like sugar, wheat, corn, white potatoes, rice and pasta and dairy.  No diet foods or sodas were allowed either.   Strangely, I missed my milk, yogurt and cheeses the most and that was the first thing I went to the store to buy when my twenty eight days were up.  As hard as it is to fast from those foods, I know that my body needed to give them up completely in order to break its dependance on them.  The entire first week I had a headache and I totally believe I was going through withdrawal from sugar and carbs.  After the first week, I felt fine.  In fact, I felt better than fine, I felt great!   That great feeling is what kept me motivated to stay committed to my goal. 

Having a few friends who were also on the diet helped.  I think I needed that support system.  When I was wanting chocolate, all I had to do was let them know and they gave me ideas to help with that craving.  We shared recipes and cooking tips with each other.  It made the project more enjoyable to have others along on the journey with me.  

When I started the diet, I told myself that I didn't care so much about the numbers on the scale, that I just wanted to cleanse my body from the indulgences of the holidays, lower my blood sugar and feel in control of my eating choices.  Those were my goals.  Now if a woman tells you she doesn't care about the numbers on a scale, she's probably not being honest with you.  I weighed myself every day.  And the number jumped up and down.  I have to admit it was frustrating to lose one day and gain the next.  But in the course of the month, I lost nine pounds,  my clothes are now looser and my blood sugar is in a good space.  My doctor is going to be happy when I go in for my next blood tests.  What I love the most, is that I am in control of my food and not the other way around.  Sugar and carbs are addicting, and it takes time to get those out of your system.  But I know if you stick with it long enough, you really do lose the cravings for those things.  I was at a church dinner this week and everyone at the table had dessert.  I didn't even want any.  And I didn't feel like I was being deprived in any way. I honestly didn't want it.  And if you know me well, you know that is a miracle.  

I've found that when you give your body healthy, unprocessed foods, your taste buds become reacquainted with the way food should taste.  An apple or orange can be incredibly sweet.  Brown rice has a nutty sweetness to it that's very satisfying.  A green salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing tastes clean and fresh.  Nut butters on sprouted grain toast is delightful.  Eating real food becomes exciting and nourishes the body the way it is intended to nourish.  This new way of eating has been a great learning experience for me.

Interestingly enough, the first day I was "off the diet", I got up and found myself thinking, "I can eat whatever I want now."  And I chose the same foods I had eaten on the diet.  Turns out, I like this food and want to keep eating it.   I also plan to continue to:

* Eat three meals a day and two snacks. 

* Plan ahead and keep prepping foods, so I'll always have the healthy stuff on hand.

* Drink lots of water.

* Eat bread and pasta sparingly. And only when it's really good.  I don't have to eat bread just because it's on the table.  But if it's really good bread, I'm going to have some and enjoy every bite. 

* Stay away from any food that is fake.  Eat whole, natural foods.

* Think before eating.  Is this something that I really want?  Is it a special occasion or celebration and worthy of indulgence?  I will definitely be baking again and making wonderful treats, just not nearly as often.  

* Eat seasonal foods that taste delicious.

* Continue making the recipes from the plan that I loved, like the spicy chipotle chicken sausage bowl, meaty spaghetti sauce and stuffed mushrooms.  Make big pots of chili and soup and keep some in the freezer for days when I'm too busy to cook.  Brown rice, quinoa and cooked beans freeze beautifully.  

* Stay active.

So, I'm a big fan of the Fast Metabolism Diet.  I think it's a healthy way to lose weight and I would recommend it, not only as a way to take off some pounds, but as a sustainable lifestyle.  I'm going to try very hard to maintain the new habits I've formed, and if in the future, I find myself in an unhealthy relationship with food, I know I need to get right back on this plan for another 28 days and get straightened out.  

Seeking Contentment

First Monday counting....

                                 when I share entries from my Gratitude Journal

1- the first day of a new year

2- a juicy red grapefruit, sectioned and ready to eat

3- remembering Micah on his birthday

4- celebrating eternal families

5- red berries

6- playing with the dogs

7- black eye peas and collard greens

8- one less vehicle in the driveway

9- restoring order

10- waking up to the surprise of a white world

11- John 16:33

12- new projects

13- a wood stove, cranking out the heat

14- Friday roses

15- chicken picatta

16- popcorn and orange juice

17- teamwork, while taking down the Christmas tree

18-dinner date at Hobnobs

19- First Sunday Sunbeams

20- hearing these words, " your pizza is so much better than restaurant pizza"

21- waking up in a warm house

22- a pot of soup loaded with vegetables

23- a good night's rest

24- hummus and veggies, a healthy snack

25- lavender scented bath

26- watching the sunrise in the rearview mirror

27- feeling the warmth of a little patch of sunlight

28- liberal amounts of avocado

29- singing along with a fun commercial

30- a new residence for Kenzie, that makes her really happy

31- childlike faith

32- curling up on the love seat to watch a favorite tv show

33- shrinking numbers on the scale

34- a lovely mom-to-be

35- waking up in time to see a beautiful pink sky outside my bedroom windows

36- clean laundry

37- pulling a meal from the freezer, so I don't have to cook!

38- hugs from my sons

39- watching a red headed woodpecker fly between trees

40- crisp white sheets on the bed

41- being pleasantly surprised when something isn't nearly as bad as you expected

42- dinner prepared by headlamp

43- old pictures and the stories that go with them

44- visiting with dad and Yvonne

45- being disciplined when it's easier not to

46- cruise control

47- a goodnight text

48- "happy to see you" doggie greetings

49- birds at feeders

50- a flood of memories

51- cows, grazing on pasture

52- safe travels

53- kale chips

54- seeing friends you haven't seen in a while

55- date night

56- the release of a good and faithful bishop

57- a full tank of propane

58- elevating the heartbeat

59- feeling accomplished

60- order in my closet

61- rose scented drawer liners

62- warm water

63- listening to the wind howl from under warm blankets

64- a thoughtful card from Mark

65- being at the right place at the right time

66- a grandmother's smile

67- freedom to choose a different way

68- singing Stevie Nick's songs with the next generation

69- yarn in lovely hues

70- watching the sun sink below the horizon

71- tree branches, heavy with snow

72- spaghetti, twirled on my fork

73- snow beards

74- boots crunching on a snowy path

75- pausing for a cup of afternoon tea

"A quiet heart is content with what God gives.  It is enough.  All is grace."

Elisabeth Elliot

Kale Chips, I Like 'em

Have you ever tried kale chips?  Have you ever wanted to?  I know they sound a little strange and if you're not a fan of leafy green vegetables, they might sound disgusting.  But I'm here to tell you they are good!  I'd seen recipes for them on Pinterest and other sites and had been planning to give them a try, but just kept putting it off.  Last weekend, when I was on Phase 3 of this diet, those wonderful three days when you can have plenty of healthy fats, I decided to give it a shot.  That, and I had some kale in the fridge that needed to be used and I didn't think I could handle it sautéed, again.  

I feel a little silly sharing this recipe, because it's so easy, I could just tell you how to do it in one sentence.  But pictures are nice, don't you think?  I washed my kale and tore it into small pieces, not too small though, because it shrinks when it bakes.  I spread it out on paper towels and let it dry completely. 

I put a couple of glugs (that would be maybe a T. or more) of olive oil in a plastic ziplock bag.  I don't measure very often.  I have some fantastic lemon infused olive oil that a friend gave me for my birthday last year, that I've been rationing, and decided this would be a good time to use a little.  It turned out to be a good call.   I put some sea salt in the bag, along with the oil and kale, and shook, shook, shook  until the kale was coated with the mixture. 

I spread the kale onto a couple of cookie sheets and baked it in a 300 degree oven for about fifteen to twenty minutes.  Watch closely towards the end, so they don't brown.  You want the kale to stay a nice green color.   Browned chips will taste burnt and that is not good!  I know, because I tried some.  Let them cool and your ready to munch.  Potato chips, they're not, but for a healthy, crunchy snack that won't elevate the blood sugar, they're pretty darn good. One word of advice.  Check your teeth before you smile at anyone.

On a Cold, Snowy Day : Daybook Entry

I haven't posted a Daybook entry since last summer and I'm going to try and do better this year, shooting for once a month.  It's an interesting way to take a glimpse of your life on any given day and especially to see how things change (or stay the same) from year to year. 

Outside my window... snow, beautiful snow.  I've been waiting for this and now that it's here, I'm making sure I enjoy it.  This could be it for the winter.  Who knows?  The weather has been so weird.

The dogs love the snow and even though we're having frigid temperatures, they go out and play and then come back in to warm up.  I was surprised to see them running across the frozen pond, a little nervous that they would break the ice and fall in, but it's been really cold here, so I guess it was ok.

I am wearing... jeans, a hoodie and my Merrill shoes ( my best apparel purchase of the season!)

I am listening to... the dryer, making lots of noise.  I think there's some change jingling in there.

I am thankful for... so many things!  A warm house, a wood stove that's been burning nonstop to fight the chill of these cold days and nights, healthy fats (avocados, cashew butter and hummus- more on this later), and a schedule that allows me to enjoy snow days, 

Around the house... I've been slowly getting things back in order from the holidays.  When I put things away this year, I put a lot of thought into what I really loved and wanted to keep and what could go.  Over time, I've accumulated so many decorations and each year, I find, I want to bring out less and less.  Something about the beginning of a new year makes me want to clean drawers and closets and clear clutter.  I've lined my bedroom dresser drawers with the loveliest rose scented paper and some times I just want to open them and sniff.   What a little thing that feels like a luxury.

In the garden... not much going on right now.  The seed catalogues are filling up the mailbox though and it's fun to browse and dream of warmer days and hands in the dirt.  I didn't get my asparagus mulched this fall and with this extremely cold winter, I'm nervous that it might not survive.  Oh, I hope it will be ok, as this will be the year I can cut and eat all I want. The garlic is safely under straw, so I think it will be ok, and I did mulch the strawberries, so I'm crossing my fingers for some sweet fruit this summer.

I'm not a fan of... cleaning bathrooms (which I just finished doing).  I'll do laundry, cook and clean the kitchen, vacuum and mop, and be perfectly ok with it, but I don't think I will ever learn to enjoy cleaning bathrooms.  But I try to do it with a good attitude, mostly.

I'm loving... feeling healthy.  This month I've been on the Fast Metabolism Diet and my body feels completely cleansed of all the holiday indulgences (which I totally loved).  My vegetable crisper has been overflowing and I've been eating a rainbow of delicious foods.  Fruits, lean proteins, healthy fats and a few whole grains compliment all those vegetables and I've been trying really hard not to focus on the things I can't have- like dairy, sugar, wheat, corn, potatoes...  But I feel great!  And my blood sugar is the best it's been in years, so I will try to maintain the healthy habits I've picked up from this diet when I begin to reintroduce some of my regular foods back into my diet.  Dairy comes first, oh how I've missed my milk, yogurt and cheese.

I am reading... Right now I'm finishing up a few books, Boundaries,by Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend   has been my nonfiction pick for January and its an excellent book.  It won't be pushed onto a shelf and forgotten when I'm finished, as it's a handbook on relationships that I really need.  I'm reading Serving Victoria by Kate Hubbard , about life in Queen Victoria's Court as seen through the eyes of her servants. The British monarchy is one of my favorite subjects.  I just finished  Between the Lines, by Joseph Fielding McConkie and I loved it.  He's one of my favorite teachers at BYU Education week and as I read his book,  I felt as if I were sitting in one of his classes, except this time I didn't leave with a headache.  Sometimes he gives me a headache because I have to think so hard about what he's teaching.  He doesn't spoon feed, he expects his students to work to gain the knowledge.  I like this about him, even though I know I have to be prepared with my Advil. 

I am creating... a new peachy rose colored scarf.  I'm knitting the seed stitch and it's really pretty.  I also have a new book with twenty dishcloth patterns, for when I need to whip up something quickly.  Sometimes I just need to start and finish a project in a few days and dishcloths fit that requirement. I'm also into a photography project that I'm pretty excited about.  More on that later.

I am learning... about how my body metabolizes food and how I should eat properly.  The diet has been an eyeopener for me.  I'm also learning how to use all the fancy gadgets on my new car.  It takes a while, but each week I pull out my handbook and learn something new.  I've learned how to do a "right twist" in knitting and thanks to some cool websites, I've been learning about the planets, stars and moon phases.  These cold clear nights are great for stargazing.  

From the kitchen... it's all healthy.  I've made soups and roasted vegetables. I've made hummus weekly.  I made a diet friendly spaghetti sauce and tried brown rice pasta (which wasn't bad at all!), I've been having salmon and tuna, chicken and steak.  And I've found a chipotle chicken sausage that is out of this world that I've used in spicy rice bowls and scrambled egg whites with veggies.  I've been a real snob up to this point about chicken sausages, but I've been humbled.  Turkey bacon on the other hand, is simply not fit for consumption.   Sorry, I tried.

30 Day Challenge... my challenge this month has been this diet.  And I'm almost to the end and super glad that I chose this one first.  Not the easiest, but the best way to start off the new year.  You can go here to read more about my 30 Day Challenges this year.

Family news... Dillon and Jantzen have been in NJ recording.  I'm looking forward to hearing their new stuff and watching their last Old North State concert this weekend.  I say that with some sadness, because I've loved the music that band has produced, but I'm sure I'll enjoy the new sound .  Kenzie has moved to Asheville.  She's happy, and I'm happy for her.  But I miss having her around.  It's awfully quiet at my house.

I am pondering... " A quiet heart is content with what God gives.  It is enough.  All is grace.  Our enemy delights in disquieting us. The choice is ours.  It depends on our willingness to see everything in God, receive all from His hand, accept with gratitude the portion and the cup He offers.  The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."       Elizabeth Elliot    

I am hoping... for a little mini vacation soon.  I need it.

Living my faith... I continue to join with friends one day a week to read the Book of Mormon.  It's an interesting group, not one I would have probably chosen myself, but one that teaches me something almost every week.  Unit conferences are in full swing and I'm traveling with my counselors to visit the Primaries in our stake.  This takes a fair amount of time and energy, but is always worth it.  I'm studying the Old Testament, just barely into it, but looking forward to receiving new insights.  I have a leadership training meeting to attend this weekend with Elder Perry (who's visiting in our area) and I know it will be good.  Just anxiously engaged, you know how it is.