Showing posts with label Healthy Living. Show all posts

Happy 2014!

By Nicole | Published Monday, January 13, 2014

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and the new year has gotten off to a lovely start. I can't believe we're almost to the half-way point for January already. The time to discuss resolutions and whatnot has passed. Instead, I wanted to share my three goals for 2014.


  1. Have friends and/or family over for dinner at least once a month. This may mean a simple weeknight meal consisting of a robust antipasti plate or it may involve a Saturday night dinner party where I try out a new recipe or two from the cookbook library. Regardless, I want to cook more and share those meals with the ones I love.
  2. Take more photos. Keith and I have spent many conversations about finding a hobby. I think one of my hobbies is going to involve my camera and capturing more memories. To help hold me to this, I'm planning to start a series here picking up on what so many other bloggers do called Silent Sundays. I want to share a photo that captures what the week held or maybe that day, but you'll see at least one photo sharing a quiet piece of our life. 
  3. Find a new job that bring me fulfillment. Near the middle of December, I learned the department at my current firm is going through a reorganization and as a result will leave me without a position come the start of the second quarter. (Yes, this explains for some of the silence.) After thinking about it for a bit, I want to stay in my current field. And I want to do a measured search that lands me at a new place where the culture and work-life balance is just as good of a fit as the work matching my skills. 
  4. Bonus! Live a healthier lifestyle. I'm in marketing folks, so you had to expect a bonus goal. We've talked before about wanting to be healthier. Well, this year Keith is on board as well. We refuse to use the dreaded "D" of diet, but instead plan to eat more whole foods during the week and only on weekends cheat. It also means more exercise. Back in my 20s, hitting the gym and lifting weights every morning worked for me. Now that I'm maturing, I don't find that as rewarding. Expect to hear about my trial runs of various classes, etc. To start, I've signed up for Power Yoga classes at the studio close to home. Hopefully, that will help me find something I love and enjoy while also taking me a little closer to the goal. If not, on to the next option.
So, folks, what do you have planned for 2014? Anyone want to join us for dinner? 

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Recipe: Breakfast Cookies

By Nicole | Published Monday, September 16, 2013


After flipping through the collection of cooking magazines that I had acquired, I was reminded of a few recipes I had forgotten about. One of those was Cooking Light's recipe for Breakfast "Cookies." This is  a recipe I was using almost weekly a few years back and then it just disappeared from the rotation - or maybe I over did it.

Regardless these "cookies" are a great way to start the day especially when the chances of eating at the desk or en route to the desk are high. You'll also feel pretty good about eating them - whole wheat flour, wheat bran, dried fruit, and nuts. But don't let all that healthy stuff scare you, they are really good.


Breakfast Cookies
Adapted from a Cooking Light recipe

3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. butter, melted
2 large eggs
1/4 c. finely chopped dried figs* 
1/4 c. dried cranberries* 
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. wheat bran
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground allspice
1/4 c. sliced almonds
2 t. granulated sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Combine first three ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in chopped figs, cranberries, and vanilla.

3. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with knife. Combine flours, bran, baking soda, cinnamon, and allspice with a whisk. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring until moist. It will be really thick and sticky. Fold in almonds.

4. Drop by 1/4 cup measures 4 inches apart on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle evenly with granulated sugar.

5. Bake at 350 F for 12 minutes or until almost set. They will be slightly browned around the edges. Do not wait for them to look "done" or they will be dry and overdone. 

6. Cool 2 minutes on pans. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire wracks. 

7. Enjoy!

* I almost always sub in dried dates for the figs. I've also used an assortment of whatever dried fruit I have on hand, including apricots, raisins, and pineapple. You can also swap out the almonds for walnuts, pecans, or whatever nuts you like. Don't like nuts feel free to skip that.  

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Let's Get Physical

By Nicole | Published Friday, July 13, 2012


Remember how Keith and I thought we could become more like vegetarians? I think that lasted for almost a month…this girl just loves a bloody steak.  That and I realized we were eating a great deal of cheese and bread, which is a lot of extra calories and in many instances fat. Because who can eat just a plain slice of bread, when you can spread a rich and creamy European butter over it?

When the goal was to shrink the waistline, I learned I was actually increasing it. Instead, we have switched to a weekly box of fruits and vegetables along with farm fresh meat and eggs and the occasional dry good like beans. I love the colors of Mother Nature.


We have also gotten serious about tracking our calories using the My Fitness Pal website and app on our phones. This little app is also awesome in tracking the calories you burn as well as consume. I find that just a bit rewarding and not completely all doom and gloom.

Considering we have been faced with a weekend in Texas that started with Whataburger and an amazing French dinner last weekend, things are looking up. I think we’re on the right track. This past week was quite successful. Keith and I both managed to stay under our calorie goals and spend some quality time at the gym. Now let’s just hope we don’t derail over the weekend.

I plan to share fun apps, healthy recipes, and other get fit tips with you as we conquer the pants. Even more I’d love to hear what secrets you have. If someone could help me beat this craving for ice cream, I would be forever grateful.

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Let's be like rabbits

By Nicole | Published Friday, April 27, 2012


You are not going to believe this not in a million years, especially if you know Keith. I was a bit caught off guard myself. He has proposed we try to dramatically reduce the amount of meat we eat. Notice, he didn’t suggest we go full out vegetarian. But he is open to the idea of eating meat only once or twice a week for dinner.

Before Keith and I got married, I often ate dinners three or four nights a week that consisted of nothing but fruits and vegetables with a high-fiber carb on the side like quinoa. I also was going to the gym five days a week and was in the best shape of my life. Well, since moving in together and ultimately getting married, we both have let the ball drop on our fitness regimens. I no longer go to the gym 5 days a week and yoga a couple of times. Keith is no longer lifting weights and training for marathons. I know. I know. This is normal, but it’s gotta stop.

For one, I’m tired of battling my closet each morning. I’m tired of feeling just bleh. When Keith suggested an even healthier approach to meals, I knew he had reached that point with me. We put it on together, so it’s now time to take it off together. Just maybe I’ll finally break in those new running shoes I bought over a month ago.

 
Stay tuned. I hope to share some of the interesting vegetarian recipes we try and really enjoy. Not to mention, I’m sure there will be crazy adventures that we just have to share about the path to fitness.

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