Day 35: Dark chocolate obsession

We all know the benefits of dark chocolate, especially it's anti-oxidant properties!  There are so many exotic varieties to try like this pear and almond flavor of belgian dark chocolate from Harris Teeter.  I'm not sure why, but I find a little bit of chocolate helps me sleep better and warmer at night!  

Day 32: Quick chicken salad

I'm always looking for new ideas for lunch.  One can only subsist on peanut butter and jelly for so long!  I'd pinned a number of chicken salad recipes and figured I'd give one of them a try.  But when perusing my pantry, I found that I had some ingredients from one recipe, and some from another, so I decided to combine two recipes and give it some flair of my own.

I, for one am a fan of the sweet and sour, the tart and tangy, not to mention the soft and crunchy.  Meaning I like to incorporate whatever fruits and nuts I have available to take this chicken salad to the next level.  One recipe used avocado instead of mayo.  I didn't have an avocado in hand, so we'll have to save it for next time!

Ingredients:

1 lb chicken - diced (I used a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store)

1/2 cup low fat mayo (can substitute with Greek yogurt, or the avocado if you're feeling adventurous!)

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1 small red onion, diced

1 small apple, diced

1/4 cup silvered almonds

1/4 cup raisins

1.  Put the mayo in a large mixing bowl, add onion powder, salt and pepper.  Taste and adjust to your liking.

2.  Add chicken, onions, apples to the chicken and mix.  Add raisins and almonds last.  Enjoy on its own or with bread or crackers.

If I had grapes, I would have split those and added them as well.  The next day, I used the rest of the chicken and used a pear as my fruit, and pistachios instead of almonds, and I have to say it was some of my best work yet! It has become a fast favorite for my husband and kids!  Going to be lunch time staple in my house from now on!  Now to try to find a good egg salad and tuna salad recipe...

Day 31: January recap!

It's hard to believe, but month one of 2015 is already in the books!

This website was started as a personal project for me to record some of the small day to day aspects that can ultimately over time can make a difference.  

Some of the posts have been about weight loss, since living a healthy lifestyle is a concern for many in the new year.  But there were also some posts of recipes, beauty suggestions, home suggestions, and personal motivations.  

Hopefully we can see how taking the year one day at a time can improve our lives and our perspectives.  After all, Rome wasn't built in a day, right!

Happy living!

Day 30: Cabbage steaks: it's what's for dinner!

I've been trying to incorporate vegetables into more of a lead role, rather than a supporting one, for dinner.  I was hesitant to try this recipe out since I rarely cook or eat cabbage.  But it was a winner!  Don't let the photo fool you - it was delicious.  And so easy to prepare!  Check out the recipe here!

Day 29: Life is...

In "Instant Karma" John Lennon sings, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."  In Sex in the City, Carrie says. "Life is what happens when you're waiting for a table."  I have my own variation:  "Life is what happens when you are getting from one destination to the next."

Travel is great for family time.  Not necessarily the quality time spent at the destination, but the time spent getting there.  The hours spent in line, on a plane, in a car.  That's where the quality time comes in.  And ironically, I do enjoy that more than the destination!

Day 27: Meditate right now

The mind is a powerful tool.  It holds so much of what makes us happy and fulfilled with our lives.  I've never considered myself to be "new agey" or a fan of meditation.  You mean I just sit there doing nothing wasting time that I could be doing something else?  It's an investment, a small investment of time with big dividends.

Meditating it turns out is simple, but not as easy as it seems.  Find a nice quiet place, and set your phone timer for 5 minutes.  Play light music if you like.  iTunes radio has many yoga stations if you are looking for inspiration.  Pandora does too.  Then close your eyes, focus on your breath, and try to empty your mind.

Not as easy as you thought right?  Getting your mind to stop can be tricky, but will get better with practice.  Somedays it'll be hard, and somedays it won't.  But trust me, it's worth it.  There are plenty of pinterest challenges too if you're interested.

Day 26: 5 ways to use a kitchen timer

Over the holidays, I had bought a fancy timer from Anthropologie.  I had gotten it for myself, but I had a secret Santa party that I forgot to get a gift for, so instead I took the timer with a cute little note inside that had a list of things you could do with a kitchen timer.  

Magnetic kitchen timer from Anthropologie, $16

These things included:

1.  Meditate

2.  Do a plank challenge.

3.  Clean your kitchen.

4.  Take an Internet/Facebook break

5.  Journal

I eventually got one for myself, and it basically sits on my fridge looking pretty.  I guess you could also use it to bake something, but most stoves (and iPhones) come with timers right?