tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43136914360262613982024-02-06T19:30:04.635-08:00Farmer's Wife Livin' the City LifeExtreme? Maybe a little. We are not your average farm family but we have found a good balance between farm living and city life.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-83535906774520101132016-10-15T15:04:00.000-07:002016-10-15T15:09:47.875-07:00Discouraged But Not Defeated<br />
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"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."<br />2 Thessalonians 3:3</div>
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Satan has a funny way of using negativity to get under our skin. To make us forget God's faithfulness and to make us feel discouragement in areas of life where we <i>should</i> feel encouraged.<br />
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But, God's faithfulness is so abundant and so limitless that He never fails to gently remind me that He's got my back, that He goes before me and that He has all of this life in the palm of His hands. And for that, I am so thankful.<br />
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God kept laying these words on my heart to share. Hopefully someone else can be encouraged. Recently, I've been discouraged. Satan has found ways to use things I'm passionate about and things that I work hard on to be a source of frustration and stress. People, in their human nature have been critical and negative, resulting in my own second-guessing and questioning of my purpose. I've questioned my motives, I've questioned my ministry and I've questioned if God really has me in the right place. Let me tell you, discouragement is not fun. Feeling frustrated and angry about things you're normally excited about is from the devil. It's straight from Hell. And I knew it, and I let it get to me anyways.<br />
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And then, you know what? God gently reminded me that He is right here next to me. I selfishly prayed that I would get a chance to "prove the nay-sayers wrong" and He has given me that opportunity. As soon as the opportunity finally presented itself, Satan crept in for an instant, making me second guess myself again - Maybe I <i>can't</i> do this. Maybe it <i>is</i> a bad idea. But with determination and perseverance, I set out to achieve my goal - raise money for <strike>my</strike> God's church.<br />
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Be encouraged, dear brothers and sisters. Let me share with you how I have been. I set out to get donations for a church event. Church events are my thing. I have felt over the past few years that everything I've worked in ministry for has built up to being an "event coordinator". Among all the other things I do at church, this is by far my favorite thing. I enjoy it - yes it brings me stress - but the reward of seeing my brothers and sisters enjoy fellowship, enjoy food and evangelize and live out the gospel are things that bring me so much joy.<br />
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For this event, I have a very short window of time and getting donations is not something that is easy to do without time. But you know what - God doesn't need a lot of time, so neither do I. Let me tell you, friends. I set out over the past 3 days to solicit donations from local and national businesses. Some of which I have worked with in the past, some of which I know personally and some of which I have no prior relationship with. I've been blown away by the generosity of others. I have handed out over 30 letters and talked with so many people in person, via phone and via email that have just been so willing, so excited and so generous. I've gotten easily almost $400 worth of items donated in just 3 short days and I still have dozens of letters that I am waiting to hear back from.<br />
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People always say that <i>God works in mysterious ways</i>. But to me, this is not mysterious, it's just God at work. He is good, all the time. He could have easily humbled me through this experience and taken the opportunity away, closing this door - as He has done so many times. This time, though, He humbled me by showing me grace and encouraging me through the selfless charity of others.<br />
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Satan did not defeat me this time. I'm praying that he doesn't discourage me anymore, either. So, to any of you reading this who have helped through a donation, THANK YOU! You've been the hands and feet of Jesus and you can know that God put you in my life to encourage me. I'm so thankful. Thank you for letting God use you in big ways. I'm praying for you and hope that He can encourage you, too.<br />
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Love,<br />
The Farmers WifeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-87291245423336865852016-08-14T22:20:00.001-07:002016-08-14T23:39:36.868-07:007 Habits of Highly Effective Fitness-y People<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey! Me again.<br />
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I have had such fantastic feedback from my two most recent posts about my fit and healthy lifestyle transformation that I wanted to follow up with another little post. The most common thing I heard across the board was how difficult it is to stay focused, stay motivated and stay on track while trying to reform your eating and exercise habits. So, when reflecting on that common complaint, I have come up with a couple things that really helped it stick for me this time around. </div>
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I can remember riding on a plane to Disney World when I was in 4th grade. My dad had a copy of <u>7 Habits of Highly Effective People</u>. It intrigued me. I asked him if I could read it and I'm pretty sure for the duration of the flight I stared at the pages of words that went completely over my head and made no logical sense to my 10-year-old brain. A couple years later, I was gifted [by my parents] a copy of <u>7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens</u>. I read it, but honestly couldn't tell you what a single "habit" of a highly effective teen is. BUT, when I started thinking about the things that helped me to stay on track, or be "effective", if you will, I couldn't resist using this format for my post.</div>
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<b>1. Start Slow</b></div>
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I know I have said this so many times before, but I say it a lot because it is completely true. In my experience, if I drop everything unhealthy at once and try to get 2-a-day workouts in, I crash and burn in about a week. It never works. Like, ever. So, starting slow is probably one of the most important keys to success. You didn't gain all the weight overnight, and you're not going to lose it all over night, either. It takes time. Serious transformations take months, sometimes years to complete. Don't let this discourage you, but motivate you to see the end result!<br />
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<b>2. Set Goals</b><br />
Setting goals is important because it gives you something to work for. It's important to set short term and long term goals. If you have a goal weight, size or certain amount of total pounds you want to lose, that is going to be your long term goal. But in the short term set small goals for yourself like:<br />
-working out 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes<br />
-eating clean/unprocessed food for 6 out of 7 days<br />
-giving up X, Y or Z for 30 days<br />
Setting short term goals is important because it helps keep you motivated when you can check them off your list. I'm a list person, and when I see a few things crossed off, it keeps me on track to continue crossing them off!<br />
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<b>3. Take Progress Photos</b><br />
This one might seem weird, but I only have a handful of photos of myself at the very beginning. Mostly because I hated what I saw in the mirror. But now, when I go back and compare current pictures, it helps keep the motivation strong because I can literally see with my eyeballs how far I have come. No one ever has to see the photos but you - there are ways to lock up and password protect photos on your phone, I promise - but when you are able to look at the differences after 30 days, 60 days, 90, days, a year...it's incredible how your progress will actually keep you motivated to keep going. This is important too, because sometimes physical changes don't necessarily equate to pounds lost on the scale. So at times when you're discouraged because the scale hasn't budged, your progress photos will show where you've lost inches and gained muscle definition. Even if you don't plan on making comparisons for a long time, just snap a couple in the beginning. You can thank me later.<br />
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<b>4. Keep Track</b><br />
Now, in my previous posts, when talking about going slow, I included in that to not get all crazy about counting calories and tracking macros at the get-go. Because if it doesn't come easy for you, it will add to your frustration and discouragement. In the beginning, it's more about being mindful of <i>what you eat</i> and not so much <i>how much you eat.</i><br />
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Now, that being said, I think it is very helpful to still keep track of the <i>what you eat. </i>There are so many tracking apps out there and even if you don't have a smart phone, <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/">My Fitness Pal</a> can be used on your computer at their website. You can sign up for free. There is a certain level of accountability that comes along with having to keep track of all the food you eat. It will help you think twice before grabbing the bag of chips at the vending machine or the donuts in the break room. If you eat it, log it. At the end of the day you can look back through what you ate, see what kind of macronutrient stats it created (protein, carbohydrates and fat) and get a good idea of what your diet currently consists of. This will help you make long-term changes in the future.<br />
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<b>5. Plan Ahead</b><br />
Planning ahead is another big one. It is so hard to be successful in healthy eating if you just wing it each day and stare into the fridge hoping something healthy jumps out at you. You need to be intentional in what you buy and how/when you prepare it. If you work full time, it might be helpful to prepare a few days or a week's meals at a time. But if nothing else, it helps to have a plan of what you're going to eat so you don't grab unhealthy snacks on impulse.<br />
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Planning ahead also helps when you're at a party or a function where healthy options might not be available. Depending on your level of discipline, you can pack a separate meal for yourself or go into the event knowing what you will allow yourself.<br />
<u>Grandma's 90th birthday? </u>Celebrate the woman and have some dang cake.<br />
<u>Casual bonfire/cook out with friends?</u> It's perfectly acceptable to show up with your own cooler of healthy foods. I promise, no one will be offended.<br />
<u>Company Gala for your husband's job?</u> Probably just choose the healthiest options they have and limit your portions. Probably a slight-bit inappropriate to walk in with your Playmate cooler and Tupperware containers.<br />
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It's your call, but it always helps to have a plan!<br />
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<b>6. Give Yourself Grace</b><br />
This is so, so, SO important. Listen, you will fail. You will eat a donut when you swore to yourself you wouldn't. You'll break down and find yourself drowning all your sorrows in gummy worms and Diet Coke.<br />
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It happens.<br />
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Your macros reset every day. Therefore, everyday is a chance to start fresh. Isn't that awesome!? Just get over it, move on and do better next time. Don't continue to wallow in your own self-pity. Don't let yourself go down a "cheat-week" path. Just forget it ever happened and move forward. There is no point in worrying about what happened yesterday, you cannot go back and change it. It's impossible. But you can decide what today will hold. So make better choices. The. End.<br />
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<b>7. Get Yourself a "Tribe"</b><br />
This is like a new thing. Having a "tribe". Your tribe is all the people who you look to for support, encouragement, and inspiration. Whether it's total strangers you've never met on Instagram or literally your BFF who wants to get fit with you. Whoever it is, get some peeps in your tribe. Find an accountability group on Facebook (hint: you can join mine<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/882101485216062/"> here</a>.) or start following some fitness people on Instagram. I mean, there is literally like twelve million of them - or something. For real, there are so many awesome people on IG just getting their fitness on and being all inspiring. Some of my current faves are:<br />
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<a href="http://www.instagram.com/paleobailey">@paleobailey </a><br />
<a href="http://www.instagram.com/kayla_itsines">@kayla_itsines</a><br />
<a href="http://www.instagram.com/alexajeanfitness">@alexajeanfitness</a><br />
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and of course...yours truly <a href="http://www.instagram.com/farmerswife_fitlife">@farmerswife_fitlife </a><br />
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It can be intimidating to start talking about being fit, because, if you're like me who still feels a little insecure about it, you'll be like "well, So-and-So knows way more than me about abs and macros so I can't put this post up - they'll think I'm a total knuckle-head" and you won't make a status update. But people, I'm telling you when you start to talk about your fitness, people get interested. And your friends come out of the woodwork about how they've been getting healthy and fit - <b>BOOM! More peeps for your tribe!!</b> I have reconnected with old friends in awesome ways because of my healthy lifestyle and fitness goals. It's so awesome to have someone to text and ask how their week is going or to vent because you failed and you just need a little 'pick-me-up'.<br />
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Listen, if you're super self conscious and you don't even know where to get a tribe - just invent a new IG or Facebook account and use some fake profile picture and name. Literally, no one cares. Follow a bunch of cool fitness people and start getting inspired! Before you know it, you'll want to post and share - and they may not know who the heck you are, but sharing and posting that stuff keeps you accountable. Even if it's to a bunch of strangers out in cyberspace, accountability is accountability, yo. <br />
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Alright, have I made a proper plea for a tribe? Because I think it might be the most important one - that's why I saved it for last! Having a support system is just so, so vital to your success. I personally am so blessed to have awesome people all around me to tell me how great I am doing, how much I inspire them and even those who help encourage me when I fall off track. My farmer has been my best motivator to date. He gives me compliments that help me push harder and keep working toward my goals. Having your spouse sincerely impressed with your results is one of the biggest accomplishments (at least for me!).<br />
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BUT! But, please don't do it for the compliments from others. Because that was one of my greatest weaknesses in past attempts. Working for the approval of others will get you nowhere, fast! You need to keep in mind what YOUR goals are. Set your mind on what YOU want for YOURSELF and no one else. It's then, and only then, that you'll find your greatest success.<br />
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Love yourself, dear friend. <b><u>Love yourself!</u></b> Self-love is the key to your success.<br />
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So, before you start these<b> 7 Habits of Highly Effective Fitness-y People</b>, stop and re-evaluate why you are doing this and what your end goal is. Keep your eyes on the prize and don't get distracted by the nay-sayers.<br />
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Good night, beautiful.<br />
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from the farm,<br />
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-The Farmer's Fit Wife<br />
<a href="http://www.instagram.com/farmerswife_fitlife">@farmerswife_fitlife</a><br />
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-80952633052675668012016-07-29T22:44:00.001-07:002016-07-29T22:44:09.626-07:00Inside Out: My Transformation, Part 2 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqhn8LA3CZEf3XN1F71m7USTtsVVNn6KdDF3qEFvnj6PULB89_qGClsBI1qsmj7tdxE9ftk21nFT_RwLX7RYeyoL7G3WjOEAKThAmnUveywiKdflJc9ZxXXKjI3jIPDwepgGNpVKAKihC/s1600/13874822_10103528893925348_417243072_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqhn8LA3CZEf3XN1F71m7USTtsVVNn6KdDF3qEFvnj6PULB89_qGClsBI1qsmj7tdxE9ftk21nFT_RwLX7RYeyoL7G3WjOEAKThAmnUveywiKdflJc9ZxXXKjI3jIPDwepgGNpVKAKihC/s320/13874822_10103528893925348_417243072_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Well, as promised, here is Part 2 of my transformation. It's funny because I had wanted to blog about this whole thing real-time, as it was happening (like, as in the past 2 years) but I just didn't know enough to feel confident to give advice to other people....I just knew what was working for me (and quite honestly, I still don't know enough to be considered "qualified" to give advice on this matter). But I'm glad I waited until now, because rather than have broken pieces that at first seemed to be mismatched, I can stand back now and see the whole picture and it all came together, and it makes sense.<br />
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After a solid 6 months of reforming the way I ate by cutting out processed foods, sugar (natural and artificial) and focusing on eating clean, nutrient-dense foods, I was feeling great. But I wasn't getting where I wanted with my weight and so I added regular exercise. That was helping a little bit, but slowly I was starting to realize that it wasn't only <i>what </i>I ate, but also <i>how much</i> I ate. Up until last summer (2015) I had it in my head that I didn't need to count calories and I didn't need to keep track of how much I was eating, so long as the food I was eating was whole and clean. To a certain extent, I still feel that way and I will never restrict myself food if I am hungry and "out of calories" - if I am hungry, I eat. I have not wanted, nor do I ever want to have that kind of unhealthy relationship with food. That being said, I try very hard not to emotionally eat, because that is just as unhealthy as restricting caloric intake. But, I digress - unhealthy relationships with food is seriously at least one post on it's own, and I'm sure the blogosphere is full of them. So anyways...<br />
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I have a couple friends and family members who have had wild success using a program called 21-day Fix, and it had me intrigued. However, my whole point in this endeavor was to do it myself without the programs and the expensive gadgets and gizmos and workout plans, etc. So I started reading. I used Pinterest and Google and all the informations available on the internets everywhere and learned as much as I could about 21-day Fix without actually buying the program.<br />
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And I feel like I need to add a disclaimer here: I have nothing against the 21-day Fix program, in fact, of all the MLM companies out there, I personally think Beachbody is the only one I could actually get behind. I won't, because I do not support MLM anything (again, another post for another day) but I just want to make it clear that I am not here to bash any programs or discount them, because as I mentioned before, I have seen the results in friends and family first hand. If you are dedicated and stick to their plans, IT DOES WORK! But, I am also here to tell you that I am living, breathing proof that you don't need to invest hundreds of dollars into a program to get the same type of results.<br />
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You can absolutely do it yourself. You need a little bit of time to plan your meals and a little bit of research to find workouts that will work for you. But, I read and pinned and printed and planned and I geared up for what I simply called, "21-days". Listen, I personally know 4 Beachbody coaches and I didn't even want to insult them by asking them questions and expecting answers for free. I have more respect for business people than that, I don't let customers wash their clothes for free at my laundromat, so I would never expect them to give me advice about a program that I had no intention of buying for free, either.<br />
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The general idea here is that for 21 days I dedicated myself to perfectly clean eating (no cheat meals, processed foods or sugars at all) in certain portion sizes and to complete at least a 30 minute workout once a day. So that is what I did. I did not keep stats, other than my weight. In hindsight, I wished I had taken measurements, but oh well...ya live, ya learn (well, not really because I still don't take measurements). I lost 7 lbs in 21 days and about a week after completing my first round, I started another. This, for me, and I think for anyone is such a great way to get your foot in the door. Who can't commit to something for a mere 3 weeks? If you just sit down and think it through and have it all planned out, you really can't go wrong!<br />
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In all my research and studying about the 21 day fix (which, btw, Pinterest has TONS of 21DF recipes, tips and tricks - I even have a board dedicated to stuff I used for my 21 days, check it out here: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/farmerspielman/21-days/">21 Days</a>) I kept seeing/hearing this term "MACROS". And I was all like, what the....?? I tried reading more about macros and my brain would just get confused. I'm really not a smart sciencey person, so anytime people try to explain things using science, I get completely overwhelmed and my brain basically turns to mush. So, I took a break from trying to figure out macros and I just kind of put it in the back of my brain for later. I did use an app to help me keep track of calories, though...which eventually kind of helped me figure out macros. I started using an app called<a href="https://www.loseit.com/"> Lose It!</a> - it's free and worked pretty well. Turns out, though that I should have listened to my bro-in-law all along and just started with <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/">My Fitness Pal</a>, it's pretty much the bees knees.<br />
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As it turns out, if I wanted to really shed the pounds, I needed to watch what foods I was eating, and how much I was eating, exercise regularly and drink lots of water. That's the non-secret secret, friends. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you need to eat well, exercise, drink water and repeat, for eternity. Haha, that sounds so simple, doesn't it!? But when you start to see and feel results, you will not want to stop. I promise. Getting started is the hardest part!<br />
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And so that brings us to 2016. I had wanted so much more for myself in 2015, but what is most important is that I got started. And now I feel unstoppable. This whole thing started with a non-new-years-resolution-resolution. I make changes on December 15th each year. My birthday is December 14th and I always give myself a good 2-week "it's my birthday" celebration where I eat and drink and buy anything I want, and on December 15th I generally create my "resolutions" for the coming year. This year, was different in-that I had already come so far, but not different because I still resolved to be a better version of myself. I resolved to keep going on this journey and to not stop.<br />
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A big one was increasing my water intake this year. I started by just carrying around a gallon jug with me and drinking it whenever and wherever. That way I knew how much I was drinking. These days, I just carry a 20 oz refillable bottle around with me and be sure to get 5-6 of them in a day. I also started BBG in February. Bikini Body Guide is an eBook or an app by Kayla Itsines. Now, I know what you're thinking...<i>"but you said you didn't do this with any fancy programs or buying anything, blah blah blah" </i>and yes, you're correct. But I was able to get my hands on a copy of Kayla's first eBook for free. And I mean, if you've ever seen the before and after photos of the girls who do her program, you would do it too if you got it for free. And if you're not already following @kayla_itsines on Instagram, you need to...like 10 minutes ago. I'll wait......are you following her yet?<br />
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Kayla's workouts are hard, but totally do-able. You can modify if you need to and they were the perfect bridge to get me into a higher intensity workout. There is very little equipment needed to do the BBG workouts and I did a lot of improvising. I don't own a weight bench, so I used coffee tables or chairs. I don't have a medicine ball, but I have a kettle bell so I used that. I joined a Facebook BBG accountability group which was awesome for support or ideas on how to modify exercises when having limited equipment. I completed all 12 weeks of BBG by May of this year and I have started and re-started a few times, but haven't been able to finish my second round yet.<br />
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February 2016 >> July 2016</div>
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I took the photo on the left on my first day of BBG. It's hard to see because the lighting sucks in my house, but I have way more muscle definition everywhere. BBG helped me gain so much strength and helped me finally do things like a proper push up. I cannot say enough good things about BBG, Kayla is an awesome role model and I'm thankful that the world of Instagram introduced me to all the wonderful that is BBG and the BBG Community. </div>
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Well, that about wraps it up - I am currently working on completing a program called body beast (also by beach body) that I borrowed from a dear friend and brotha-from-anotha-motha. I am almost done with week 4 of 12 and y'all, Sagi Kalev is not joking around. I still do Kayla workouts here and there, but I have been focusing on training with heavier weights and building more lean muscle mass. </div>
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I have finally figured out how macros work for me, but again, the sciencey stuff. I don't think I could explain them well enough, but if you want me to try, you can email me at spielman6125@gmail.com and I for reals would love to tell you what I think I know. And I'll just close with a couple quick words about what kind of "equipment" I use. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNFotF1sYYFCQXnJPOchro4S9Dn-a3onaI3jFZIF4kf5oSZw3f0xxEmYASbWaH4a15Y31v284Vniwwd3OTFj8YtPPj64NMflx8DFhqv2QYmrFP8r0uQ3VIdSMHYUeQApv0D39KGSe1lg6/s1600/13872488_10103528892667868_337098739_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNFotF1sYYFCQXnJPOchro4S9Dn-a3onaI3jFZIF4kf5oSZw3f0xxEmYASbWaH4a15Y31v284Vniwwd3OTFj8YtPPj64NMflx8DFhqv2QYmrFP8r0uQ3VIdSMHYUeQApv0D39KGSe1lg6/s320/13872488_10103528892667868_337098739_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There it is, in all it's glory. My "equipment"</div>
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I haven't really had to invest much into this kind of stuff because Sworkit and BBG didn't really require a whole lot and the things it did require, I could improvise with things I had on hand. I asked for a kettle bell for Christmas, I found the little purple 3 lb weights at T J Maxx on clearance for like $4.99. The two rusty adjustable ones were in my basement...the farmer helped me clean them up. The silver 5 Lb dumbbells I found at a rummage sale for $2!! That was pretty exciting, because as I have come to find out, used weights go for like $1/pound. If you can find them for $0.50/pound then you have found a great deal! Finally, I just added the black and blue ones to my collection yesterday. I picked them up off craigslist for $18 (a set of 10 lb and a set of 8 lb) and I have arranged to pick up a 12 lb set on Sunday for $12. If you include the 12 lb set that I don't have yet, my total investment for these is roughly $37. Did it require patience and a little bit of savvy shopping? Yes, of course. But it all depends how bad you want it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKqEAHVHEp4TOpDwn4hBmGWwJdnla5Oza_bwdA-wYIyJKeyxDiNnK4t_pLCh05fX6yHOfkFsEvEEGBqzqvpOyEEF1ozSv1OBboUWqi1yOMX-qnpSyLbPsevLVhautKugElGoliVqMOSlp/s1600/13875124_10103528894703788_1502384166_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKqEAHVHEp4TOpDwn4hBmGWwJdnla5Oza_bwdA-wYIyJKeyxDiNnK4t_pLCh05fX6yHOfkFsEvEEGBqzqvpOyEEF1ozSv1OBboUWqi1yOMX-qnpSyLbPsevLVhautKugElGoliVqMOSlp/s320/13875124_10103528894703788_1502384166_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well friends, this transformation has been 7 years in the making. Thanks for sticking around...if you take nothing else away from this post, please know that I honestly never thought I was capable of a transformation like this. You might feel like it's too hard, or you just can't. It's going to be hard, and there will be days when you want to quit. But I promise, if I can do this, YOU CAN DO THIS. ANYONE can do this. You just need to start. Stop making excuses, stop putting it off. Make your health a priority and give yourself the chance you deserve to be great!</div>
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{End motivational speech}</div>
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Good luck and good night, from the farm,</div>
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<b>The Farmer's Fit Wife</b></div>
<br />
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-34531224011054660352016-07-28T20:42:00.002-07:002016-07-28T22:01:21.453-07:00Inside Out: My Transformation, Part 1Well hey!<br />
<div>
Welcome to my second post of 2016...it only took me 6 months to write another. </div>
<div>
I started thinking about resurrecting my blog yesterday, when this popped up in my Facebook memories:<a href="http://farmerswifelivinthecitylife.blogspot.com/2011/07/before-and-after.html">Before & After</a> - a post I proudly wrote on the heels of a little bit of weight loss back in 2011. I was 2 years postpartum and I was super excited about finally getting off the baby weight. LOL. Way to go, Ange. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwepLQdSWS_Df2mkgvRnFKGuoovx5Ld3mcBWRfbCJ4uHJYdfmvkCOCaT0jhpnkRBPVfCxF1v3QVPe7nz2UF-JFoaAh6_-z8mmStv0RvG0BE0xG9uBzRgoOd8eLHVp1PIdHjhg_Tr_bNpWl/s1600/beforeafter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwepLQdSWS_Df2mkgvRnFKGuoovx5Ld3mcBWRfbCJ4uHJYdfmvkCOCaT0jhpnkRBPVfCxF1v3QVPe7nz2UF-JFoaAh6_-z8mmStv0RvG0BE0xG9uBzRgoOd8eLHVp1PIdHjhg_Tr_bNpWl/s1600/beforeafter.png" /></a></div>
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August 2009 >> August 2011</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But seriously, I was so proud of being active again. I started running and basically just ate less. In hindsight, I was actually still pretty unhealthy and I was only concerned with seeing a certain number on the scale. I didn't care about being strong, I didn't even concern myself too much with having abs or muscle definition. Fast forward to 2016 and so many things have changed about how I look at my body. From what I fuel it with to how I strengthen it. I haven't cared about the number on the scale in quite some time, I eat more than I ever have and I fit in smaller sizes than every before in my adult life. Like, literally ever. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Recently, I have been so encouraged by many friends who send me messages me DMs telling me how I "inspire them". They want to know my "secrets" and I haven't ever been more flattered. Thank you, really! I'm so happy to share my successes with others because my whole goal this entire time was to get fit and be healthy without expensive pills, shakes, exercise programs, gym memberships, etc. I wanted to prove to the world that I could, in fact, do this myself. Armed with Google, Pinterest and a few inexpensive pieces of equipment that I have literally picked up at rummage sales and even borrowed from other people, I am on my way to attaining the body and the level of health that I've always wanted. I am so excited to let you in on my not-so-secret "secrets". </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My first non-secret is that you have to want it. I mean really WANT IT. I used to want to be skinny, weigh a magical number that would put me in some "skinny" girl category. I wanted it, but I wasn't willing to put in the work, and so as it turned out, I didn't really want it, that bad. Once I made up in my mind that I was going to do this "healthy" thing, and like, really do it, it was like a switch flipped. I started slowly, with my diet and removed one unhealthy thing at a time. Once I had mastered not having X, Y or Z in my diet, I moved on to the next thing. After about 6 months (yes, it took that long) I was eating totally clean, whole, nutrient dense foods, with the occasional cheat meal here and there. The key, though is to not have too many "cheats" in the beginning. It is important to get your brain and your body weaned off of these processed-sugar-laden foods. Once the cravings stop you won't really want it, and if you do indulge occasionally, you'll be taking a lesser risk of a "relapse" or binge. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For your reference, I started with gluten. I went gluten-free, then I cut soda and juice. Then I cut out candy and sweets (which for me weren't that big of a deal, but still needed to be addressed). Finally, I cut out any other processed foods/snacks. My biggest weakness was (and still is) potato chips and salty snacks. So that was my last thing, I let myself hang on to it for as long as I could. By the time I had cut everything else out, my body started to feel so good, that cutting those last things out wasn't really that big of a deal. And let me tell you, when I do indulge in Doritos every once in a while - they are so, so yummy. But I can stomach like 8 before I have had enough. I have found balance, and therein lies the key to your success - BALANCE. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once I had mastered the eating, I began slowly to add regular exercise to my daily routine. My goal at first was to exercise for anywhere from 15-30 minutes a day for 4 days a week. I used an app called <a href="http://sworkit.com/">Sworkit </a> - free on Google Play or iTunes. You can pick which area of your body you'd like to target and how long you'd like your workout to be. Pair this with your Pandora radio and you've got yourself a home gym! Have kids? You also have free weights. I would throw my kiddos on my shoulders when doing calf raises or squats for added resistance. This app was such a great way to get started. I wasn't in any shape to be doing the kind of high-intensity workouts that I do nowadays, but it was a perfect way for me to get my toes wet!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In review, if this type of lifestyle is so far from what your norm is, it's important to take things slowly. For perspective, I started my clean eating journey in December of 2014...so we're coming up on 2 years. I began adding exercise in June of 2015 and in July of 2015 I began my own version of the 21-day Fix. This is where I started to see some serious results. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
....More on that soon - I can't give you all the good stuff in one post! </div>
<div>
<br />
I promise it ends well - I'm almost 2 years into my journey and I look and feel better than ever. I'm so happy to know that my story has resonated with so many of my friends and helped them work toward a healthier version of themselves. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I started a dedicated fitness Instagram account, give me a follow! <a href="http://www.instagram.com/farmerswife_fitlife">@farmerswife_fitlife</a> where I post food, progress photos and more! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I can remember a post hoping to one day sign off as "the Farmer's Fit Wife" - and well, I'm happy to report that day has come!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Good night from Spielman Farms,</div>
<div>
The Farmer's Fit Wife</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-43453875039028165412016-07-28T20:42:00.001-07:002016-07-28T20:52:08.059-07:00Inside Out: My Transformation, Part 1Well hey!<br />
<div>
Welcome to my second post of 2016...it only took me 6 months to write another. </div>
<div>
I started thinking about resurrecting my blog yesterday, when this popped up in my Facebook memories:<a href="http://farmerswifelivinthecitylife.blogspot.com/2011/07/before-and-after.html">Before & After</a> - a post I proudly wrote on the heels of a little bit of weight loss back in 2011. I was 2 years postpartum and I was super excited about finally getting off the baby weight. LOL. Way to go, Ange. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwepLQdSWS_Df2mkgvRnFKGuoovx5Ld3mcBWRfbCJ4uHJYdfmvkCOCaT0jhpnkRBPVfCxF1v3QVPe7nz2UF-JFoaAh6_-z8mmStv0RvG0BE0xG9uBzRgoOd8eLHVp1PIdHjhg_Tr_bNpWl/s1600/beforeafter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwepLQdSWS_Df2mkgvRnFKGuoovx5Ld3mcBWRfbCJ4uHJYdfmvkCOCaT0jhpnkRBPVfCxF1v3QVPe7nz2UF-JFoaAh6_-z8mmStv0RvG0BE0xG9uBzRgoOd8eLHVp1PIdHjhg_Tr_bNpWl/s1600/beforeafter.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
August 2009 >> August 2011</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But seriously, I was so proud of being active again. I started running and basically just ate less. In hindsight, I was actually still pretty unhealthy and I was only concerned with seeing a certain number on the scale. I didn't care about being strong, I didn't even concern myself too much with having abs or muscle definition. Fast forward to 2016 and so many things have changed about how I look at my body. From what I fuel it with to how I strengthen it. I haven't cared about the number on the scale in quite some time, I eat more than I ever have and I fit in smaller sizes than ever before in my adult life. Like, literally ever. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Recently, I have been so encouraged by many friends who send me messages me DMs telling me how I "inspire them". They want to know my "secrets" and I haven't ever been more flattered. Thank you, really! I'm so happy to share my successes with others because my whole goal this entire time was to get fit and be healthy without expensive pills, shakes, exercise programs, gym memberships, etc. I wanted to prove to the world that I could, in fact, do this myself. Armed with Google, Pinterest and a few inexpensive pieces of equipment that I have literally picked up at rummage sales and even borrowed from other people, I am on my way to attaining the body and the level of health that I've always wanted. I am so excited to let you in on my not-so-secret "secrets". </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My first non-secret is that you have to want it. I mean really WANT IT. I used to want to be skinny, weigh a magical number that would put me in some "skinny" girl category. I wanted it, but I wasn't willing to put in the work, and so as it turned out, I didn't really want it, that bad. Once I made up in my mind that I was going to do this "healthy" thing, and like, really do it, it was like a switch flipped. I started slowly, with my diet and removed one healthy thing at a time. Once I had mastered not having X, Y or Z in my diet, I moved on to the next thing. After about 6 months (yes, it took that long) I was eating totally clean, whole, nutrient dense foods, with the occasional cheat meal here and there. The key, though is to not have too many "cheats" in the beginning. It is important to get your brain and your body weaned off of these processed-sugar-laden foods. Once the cravings stop you won't really want it, and if you do indulge occasionally, you'll be taking a lesser risk of a "relapse" or binge. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For your reference, I started with gluten. I went gluten-free, then I cut soda and juice. Then I cut out candy and sweets (which for me weren't that big of a deal, but still needed to be addressed). Finally, I cut out any other processed foods/snacks. My biggest weakness was (and still is) potato chips and salty snacks. So that was my last thing, I let myself hang on to it for as long as I could. By the time I had cut everything else out, my body started to feel so good, that cutting those last things out wasn't really that big of a deal. And let me tell you, when I do indulge in Doritos every once in a while - they are so, so yummy. But I can stomach like 8 before I have had enough. I have found balance, and therein lies the key to your success - BALANCE. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once I had mastered the eating, I began slowly to add regular exercise to my daily routine. My goal at first was to exercise for anywhere from 15-30 minutes a day for 4 days a week. I used an app called <a href="http://sworkit.com/">Sworkit </a> - free on Google Play or iTunes. You can pick which area of your body you'd like to target and how long you'd like your workout to be. Pair this with your Pandora radio and you've got yourself a home gym! Have kids? You also have free weights. I would throw my kiddos on my shoulders when doing calf raises or squats for added resistance. This app was such a great way to get started. I wasn't in any shape to be doing the kind of high-intensity workouts that I do nowadays, but it was a perfect way for me to get my toes wet!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In review, if this type of lifestyle is so far from what your norm is, it's important to take things slowly. For perspective, I started my clean eating journey in December of 2014...so we're coming up on 2 years. I began adding exercise in June of 2015 and in July of 2015 I began my own version of the 21-day Fix. This is where I started to see some serious results. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
....More on that soon - I can't give you all the good stuff in one post! </div>
<div>
<br />
I promise it ends well - I'm almost 2 years into my journey and I look and feel better than ever. I'm so happy to know that my story has resonated with so many of my friends and helped them work toward a healthier version of themselves. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I started a dedicated fitness Instagram account, give me a follow! <a href="http://www.instagram.com/farmerswife_fitlife">@farmerswife_fitlife</a> where I post food, progress photos and more! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I can remember a post hoping to one day sign off as "the Farmer's Fit Wife" - and well, I'm happy to report that day has come!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Good night from Spielman Farms,</div>
<div>
The Farmer's Fit Wife</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-50928400218324308072016-01-21T15:27:00.002-08:002016-01-21T15:27:15.576-08:00Stress Free Dinner Time = Meal Plans For The Win!<div align="left" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
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<span style="color: black;">Picture this:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">You're standing at the refrigerator in your booger-crusted yoga pants and as you twirl your messy bun in your fingers, your eyes desperately scan the shelves for something that resembles ingredients for a meal</span><span style="color: black;">. You glance at the clock behind you and your stomach drops to your knees - where, coincidentally, your toddler (mid-tantrum) clings to you, demanding treats - because its 5:00 and they're starving. Not-to-mention, your dear husband will be home in 30 minutes expecting dinner (and lets be honest, he worked hard all day and probably deserves a nice, hot meal...much less a hot wife? But, I digress). Meanwhile, your extra-chatty elementary schooler simultaneously does homework, asks you for help on said homework, watches his favorite after school show and crunches extra loudly on his Cheetos</span><span style="color: black;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Its enough to drive you to the brink</span><span style="color: black;">. And it's a scene that is all too familiar to me - and still haunts me from time to time</span><span style="color: black;">.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Listen, I big FAT heart cooking. Like, if money were no option and budgets didn't exist, we would be eating steak and mushroom risotto paired with the best wines. Sea Scallops and cuts of exotic fish would line the shelves of my fridge and I would love every minute of dinner time. But ya'll, truth is, money <i>is</i> an option and budgets <i>seriously</i> exist, and I HATE dinner time. That is capital H- hate it!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Enter: meal plans to save the day!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">A couple years ago, I got this idea that, like, if I just sat down and wrote out what we would eat each night I would know exactly what to get at the store. At the time, it helped with efficiency at the grocery store. Because, toddlers. And while it ultimately helped me get in and out of the grocery store a lot more quickly, it also dawned on me that dinner time was a lot less stressful because I had a "menu" set ahead of time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I had a plan, so n</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.8px;">o more panic attacks at 5:00 upon the realization that I had precisely 30 minutes to create a meal out of a can of chick peas and a pound of Turkey sausage (it was on sale, ok?). But, for real - do you know what I am talking about? The days when you just barely keep it together and then your family shows up acting like they're going to waste away to nothing if dinner doesn't magically appear in .07 seconds</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.8px;">. I mean, they seriously expect you to feed them 3 times a day</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.8px;">. Every</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.8px;">. Single</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.8px;">. Day</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Real life, mom-life.</span></div>
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So over the years, meal planning and I have had one of those on-again, off-again relationships. I would go two months straight and feel like I was totally rocking this motherhood-stay-at-home-wifey thing. Then, I would skip like 3 months and once again be driven to the absolute brink of insanity. Dinner time would be, yet again, filled with my attention being split a million different ways, the pantry was never stocked with the proper ingredients - due to a lack of planning and inefficiency at the store - and you know the old saying, "when mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". Dinner time was miserable.</div>
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Let's be honest, don't we all have this picture in our minds of dinner time being this happy family bonding time where we all sit around with smiling faces and talk about how uniquely challenging and exciting our days were? We all sit down to piping hot food, everyone eats every-last-drop of all the components of the meal - meat, complex starches and nutrition-packed green veggies? I mean, that <i>is</i> how dinner is supposed to be, <i>right?</i> </div>
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Instead, when I don't have a plan in place, I morph into this mom-ster of epic proportions, attempting to assemble ingredients, prep them and cook them while yelling at my kids to sit down and be quiet, or get off my leg, or denying them the attention they request, the help they need, the snacks they demand, and the list goes on...If my husband happens to be around while all this is happening, he's seeing a side of me that I'm not proud of. Maybe I'm alone when I admit that dinner time has had the tendency to bring out the absolute worst in me, or maybe you can completely relate to everything I am saying. In any case, can we all just agree that life is easier when you have a plan? </div>
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Once I really got on the healthy-eats band wagon - and I mean <i>really</i> got on, after having fallen off so many times I can't even count anymore - meal planning became a real necessity to staying on track. For me, if my meals are planned and partially prepped, I am about 100x more likely to actually eat healthy and nutritious foods, not just talk about it like a far-off, distant goal. Oh, and I'm not a mom-ster at dinner time. </div>
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Meal planning [not-to-mention consistency] has done wonders for me. After I got the hang of making plans and doing the shopping and creating a menu, I began adding small preparatory elements to my plan. Menu plans helped cut down on the likelihood of forgetting an ingredient and eliminated the scrambled search for a last-minute dinner idea, but prepping the food partially takes meal planning to a whole new level. Having things like the protein or starch already prepared - only needing to be reheated at meal time - made life infinitely easier. It cut my actual cooking time down considerably and I could - even on a totally crazy day - have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. Mom-win!</div>
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Recently - ok this morning - I was asked to talk to a group of my mom friends at my church's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/crosspointtimeout/?fref=ts">mom's group</a> about how I go about planning and prepping meals. The truth is, this is going to be different for every family. Based on your budget, based on your tastes and based on your schedule. So what I do may not work for your family, but hopefully there are principles that you can draw conclusions from and formulate a plan that will work for you. In preparation for this talk, I penned a short twenty-something page book about my process in planning including a sample menu and all the associated recipes. You can download it on Google Play or iTunes for $2.99.....just kidding, you can<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8OceuLQXJredzBwZTN3Y2VnNms"> grab it off my Google Drive for free</a>. Just don't judge me too hard, I didn't really proof read it, and I copied and pasted recipes from Pinterest. It's far from publication worthy, but maybe it'll offer something to spark your inspiration. </div>
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Sorry this post is more like telling a weird story and not really like teaching you how to meal plan. But luckily you have that handy link up there that you can use for future reference - you know, when you have a few moments for some light reading. Hopefully this will help inspire you! Please ask me questions, I am glad to help any way that I can. Meal prep can be as simple or as complicated as you make it and <i>anyone</i> can do it. I promise. Even if you serve a combo of frozen pizza, grilled cheese, macaroni and hot dogs at dinner (no judgement here! We've all had those weeks) - having them written down so you know what is dinner for each day it will take some of the guess-work out of your meal time. Guess-work = stress, so anytime you can eliminate stress, that's a win in my book! </div>
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Here's to stress-free meal times! </div>
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Plan some meals - let me know how they go and share your recipes! </div>
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-The Farmer's Wife</div>
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PS - coming soon: FREEZER MEAL SWAP. stay tuned!</div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-59487100462560416302015-12-28T20:33:00.000-08:002015-12-28T21:28:04.568-08:00@farmerswife_fitlife: the year in review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like everyone, there are things in 2015 that I did well, others I could have done better and still other things that I didn't do at all (that I probably should have, like clean daily. But, ew.) While reflecting on the things I did well this year, one of them was that I finally got around to getting my butt in shape. That is one of the things, though, that also happens to fall into the "could have done it better" category. <b>But, that's why there's 2016</b>. I have learned so much about my body, how I lose and gain weight and what things work for me. The secret to losing weight is actually not a secret at all. It's one of those things we all know deep down, but just keep searching and hoping that there really is some miracle fix - a pill or a shake or machine that will make us fit and trim and healthy in the blink of an eye.<b> The truth is, it takes exercise, dedication to a healthy, whole, and clean diet and a little bit of self-control</b> (which I'm still working on, and probably always will be. Because, pizza.)<br />
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I'm totally excited for 2016. <b>I'm armed with the tools I've acquired, the knowledge I've retained and the determination to finish/keep going. </b>Trust me when I tell you, <i>getting started is the hardest part.</i></div>
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When I started, I was determined to do this myself. I wanted to cook my own food, educate myself, find my own workouts. That being said, I think there are LOTS and LOTS of great, noteworthy programs available if you don't have that kind of time. Beach Body has done wonders for lots of fit people I know. I follow loads of girls on Instagram that are BBG (Bikini Body Guide - Kayla Itsines) followers and have had amazing results. Wild Tree, Trim Healthy Mama - great food/diet guide programs. For me, though, these programs offered things I felt I could acquire on my own. I was - and still am - determined to do this myself with some handy (free) tools I like to call Google and Pinterest. Literally, that's all I used to get started. </div>
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Here's a little play-by-play:</div>
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<b>December 2015</b></div>
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I decided once and for all that I needed to change. At 172 lbs I was the heaviest I'd ever been (aside from the whopping 224 lbs I was when I delivered my first born - I gained <b>70 (SEVENTY!) </b>lbs). I was 18 months post partum (with my second - and <i>final </i>- born) and I couldn't get by with the baby weight excuse anymore. I truly desired a change. So I started thinking about why I had dieted in the past and what methods I used and why I constantly failed at being "healthy". When I began, it was less about losing weight and more about how I felt. Then, once I felt better, I decided it was time to shed some pounds. </div>
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I started slow. And this is the key. In the past, I had dropped all the junk food and soda and fast food all at once. Cold turkey. That's where I went wrong. This time I took it one thing at a time. My advice to anyone who wants to change their eating habits is to figure out what you eat that is probably causing you problems. For me it was bread and starch - I LOVE bread. I LOVE potatoes. I LOVE chips and fries. So I started with gluten. I went a good 6 month stretch in 2014 gluten free and I felt fantastic. But, bread. I just thought I couldn't do it. So I tried again and I've been (mostly) gluten free for over a year now. Not only does my gut feel better, but I ditched my horrible sciatic nerve pain as well! I didn't even know that would go away, that was just an added bonus. My approach to gluten free is simple, if it has gluten, I don't eat it. I don't eat "gluten free" bread or "gluten free" cookies, I just don't eat bread and cookies. </div>
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Now, that might sound extreme - but this is about what worked for <b>ME. </b>You have to figure out what's going to work for you<b> YOU. </b>The thing is, I can still have fries. So I allowed myself to have fries every once in a while - so I wasn't totally depriving myself of the things I love. When I had a burger, I would wrap it in lettuce. I'm not a big fan of sandwiches so I'd have salads for lunch. Gluten freedom helped me cut out a lot of the processed foods automatically because they use wheat to make a lot of flavorings for chips and such - Pringles, for instance...even though they're "potato" chips- they're not gluten free. Ew. I don't even want to know why....which brings me to my next point.</div>
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As I started to really get into the whole gluten free kick, I did a lot more reading about what our food is made from and how it's processed. There are hidden names for gluten so I started reading about what ingredients gluten hides in. Now, listen, I don't have a medical problem related to gluten. I'm not going to have an allergic reaction to gluten if I eat it. I'm not trying to take those things lightly, either. That being said, I would consider myself to have a mild sensitivity to gluten. Because I do feel the affects of eating bread or pizza from time to time. But they generally last 12-24 hours and then I'm fine. Honestly, I think the whole world would be better off without gluten. Give it 30 days, 60 days if you're really brave. You'll feel a world of difference.</div>
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As I continued investigating how our foods are made and processed it became easier for me to ditch the things I once loved. Things I continued to slowly give up over this time period included soda, juice and basically any beverage other than water or almond milk. Almost all grains besides oats and brown rice and occasionally corn, dairy. Each thing took weeks, sometimes months to completely cut out. I tried not to eliminate another thing until I had mastered the last. </div>
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<b>May 2015</b></div>
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I decided that I needed a little motivation - because while I was making great progress in my eating habits - i.e. eating lean protein and fresh fruits and veggies, being completely gluten free, and having removed most grains and dairy from my diet - some times things would sneak back in and I would always regret the gross, pit in my stomach feeling that was totally not worth a goldfish and diet coke binge. So, I opened my pantry - and this happened.</div>
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I was like, see ya, junk food. It's been real. Hashtag: ButSeriously.</div>
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BTW, that's a real picture from my Instagram when I did my purge. It felt so good! </div>
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<b>June 2015</b></div>
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So by this time of the year I had been at this whole thing for about 6 months. I was feeling good, but despite my efforts to be super healthy I hadn't lost a ton of weight. A little bit, but nothing really life-changing. Up to this point I had tried to tell myself that I didn't need to count calories, I didn't need to be concerned with <i>how much</i> I ate, only with <i>what types of foods</i> I was eating. To an extent, I was right. But, if you want to burn calories, shred fat and gain lean muscle mass, you need to set boundaries. I just read the other day that "abs are made in the kitchen". I didn't have abs yet because even though I had cut out most of my carbs, when I ate carbs like rice or beans or potatoes, I ate a lot of them. After all, I was under the assumption that counting calories wasn't necessary, as long as I was eating whole, clean, nutrient dense foods. </div>
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The fact that the scale just didn't budge started to change my mind. So somewhere in the beginning of June I started researching the 21 Day Fix. At the time, I thought that was just some sort of fad-diet that I could just look up the rules to. Turns out it is a whole program with food containers, protein/nutrient meal supplement shakes and work out programs. The more I read, the more I became intrigued. It was something that I really wanted to try, however, my track record with purchases in this department isn't exactly stellar. I usually make the farmer shell out a whole bunch of dough and I hardly ever follow through. So...with a hefty price tag in the neighborhood of $120, I knew there was going to be no way to convince the farmer. So I had no choice but to create my own program. </div>
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Luckily for me, Pinterest had loads of "21 Day Fix" friendly meal plans, lists of approved foods and even some insights to how to figure out your portion control for each meal. So, for 21 days I dedicated myself to eating controlled portions, packing all my snacks and meals if we went somewhere and working out once a day. For snacks I had apples and peanut butter, nuts and seeds, carrot sticks, trail mix. Lunches and dinners were usually salads or rice bowls with chicken, beans, avocados, etc. Breakfast was easy - this farm girl loves some fresh eggs, so eggs were a staple for me during these 3 weeks. </div>
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My workouts were very simple. Generally just circuits with jumping jacks, triceps dips, push ups, crunches, and planks. These were all plans I found on Pinterest. I would try to work out for at least 20 minutes and push myself to go longer if I could. I was not tracking my heart rate or anything and I really had no idea how many calories I was burning, but for the first time in my new lifestyle's history, I was eating clean, controlling my portions and working out all at the same time. In 21 days I lost 7 lbs. That was pretty much the same amount of weight I had lost in the whole 6 months prior, in THREE WEEKS! </div>
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Finally, after figuring out that it really did matter <i>how much</i> I was eating, I tried my very best to stick to the "21 days" rules I had created for myself. I continued working out [almost] every day and I added protein shakes to my daily menus. I usually try to replace one meal every day with a protein shake. Right now, my go-to shake is 2 scoops of Vanilla Creme EAS (Lean 15) + 8 oz Unsweetened Almond Milk + 1 Frozen Banana. Blend well and it tastes like an ice cream shake. Really, I promise.</div>
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I've equipped myself with more tools that help me workout better and stay on track. All while trying to keep my investments at a minimum. I purchased some inexpensive hand weights and a yoga mat at Target. I spend less than $20 on my protein powder and it lasts me quite a few weeks. I have not spent more on groceries than I did in the past. I shop at Woodman's and frequent their reduced produce section where you can buy giant bags of fresh fruits and vegetables for $0.99 each! I still use coupons and try to purchase meat when it goes on clearance at Target and stack it with coupon and Cartwheel savings. It takes a little work, and a little luck (hitting sales/clearance) but when you shop smart, eating healthy doesn't have to break the bank!</div>
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Here's the thing. I get it. I'm a stay at home mom that has pretty much as much time as I'd like to dedicate to researching healthy food and planning grocery hauls and working out whenever I can fit it in. This is why making my own program works for me. I get it when you're working and adulting and being a mom all in the same day that it can seem next to impossible to fit these things in. I seriously get it. Working out either has to be done super early in the morning or super late at night - both of which are very daunting times of the day. Not to mention making grocery shopping enjoyable. Trying to navigate things you don't understand (maybe) - trying to find gluten free options, get the right amount of produce so that you eat it and it doesn't go wasted, finding recipes that your family will enjoy and finding the time to cook and prep meals and snacks for the days ahead. But, it's all part of living a healthy lifestyle. And that's where the noteworthy programs come in that I mentioned in the beginning. If you're not opposed to shelling out a little dough, you can purchase meal plans, portion control containers, work out programs, and even have "coaches" contact you and keep you in check. There are lots of options out there, you just have to pick one that works for you and <b>START.</b></div>
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If you'd like to try it my way, in the end it comes down to how bad you want it. And it comes back to my original point - taking it one step at a time. If you start small by just eliminating one thing at a time, it won't seem so huge. You don't have to plan a week's meals, snacks and prep it all after grocery shopping for 2 hours after you put the kids to bed only to have to get up and work out for 45 minutes at 4 am because there's no other time. I think a lot of people (especially working moms) feel that way. And I agree - I wouldn't want to do it either if I had to do that, that right there sounds like a living hell. </div>
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But if you just stop taking that snack break in the afternoon and grabbing a snickers and a pepsi from the vending machine at work. Or stop picking up the super calorie packed lattes in the morning. Pick ONE thing. You'll save money, AND you'll feel better. Stop drinking 4 sodas a day and drink 1. Replace your soda with water. Or just drink more water in addition to your soda. Switch from milk chocolate to a dark chocolate that's at least 60% cacao. Limit your fast food to once a week. Then once every 2 weeks. Then once a month. Until you don't even miss it, in fact, when you do run through a drive thru out of desperation, you'll feel so sick after you eat it that you'll swear off the stuff for a lifetime. Slow and steady wins the race, friends. You need to find out what your one thing is going to be. Mine was gluten. Then it was soda. Then it was processed/fast food.</div>
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Once you master one thing, pick another thing. After a few months (yes, this will take months) your diet will look totally different. Hopefully it will be full of lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables and an occasional dark chocolate bar. Then, whenever you're ready, start some sort of work out regimen. Take a walk on your break. Do push ups and crunches before bed. Run when you go take the mail out to the mail box. Do something small at first, and add to it over time. Before you know it, you'll miss your workout when you skip it. And suddenly it will fit itself into you day. </div>
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Finally, find some friends that can rally around you and encourage you. I have to say that one of the best things I have found with my healthy lifestyle is that I have reconnected with friends who live the same way and met some new friends along the way. We stay in touch and hold each other accountable and ask each other how its going. It helps so much. And, when you do start seeing results those remarks from people about how great you look will be the only fuel you need to keep going. But even before that - the changes that you see and feel will keep you going, keep you pushing yourself to the next level. It will take time, but it will be totally worth it!</div>
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Take progress pictures. Even if you never show them to anyone. It will help keep you going. There was a period of time in summer when i felt like nothing was working. I was doing all this for nothing. Then I snapped a picture of myself in my bathing suit and compared it to another of myself in the same suit just 3 weeks earlier. The difference to me was astonishing. It might be hard to see at first, and that's why taking before, during and after pictures is so critical. If for nothing else than your own motivation. Also, to show your husband and be like, "See honey - this is why we eat brown rice and boiled chicken every. single. day. Aren't you so happy now?!"</div>
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But seriously, you can do it! I did it, and I know you can too. Make 2016 your best year yet. You've got this.</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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The Farmer's [sort of] Fit Wife</div>
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[Trying to] live a Fit Life</div>
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Follow me!</div>
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@farmerswife_fitlife</div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-89728602242006200212015-12-04T07:51:00.000-08:002015-12-04T07:51:09.002-08:00When its not "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This post is for me. Since Facebook has been doing "memories" each day - I know I am going to need this reminder in my news feed next year at this time, and the next year, and most-likely every single year to follow. Because this is just something I struggle with.<br />
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I understand that I'm in the minority when it comes to this, but I have a feeling that quite possibly there is someone out there that feels this way too. So this is also for you, dear brother or sister who has a hard time pretending that this is, in fact, "the most wonderful time of the year".<br />
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<b>See, back in August, when everyone is all</b></div>
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<b>I'm over here like</b></div>
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It's S U M M E R!!</div>
Why do you need to tell me how many Fridays there are until Christmas!? Like, let's just cross that bridge when we get there, k?<br />
<br />
It seems like it comes faster with each passing year. Fourth of July hits and it's all down hill from there. Pretty soon we're at Labor Day, school starts and then forget it. Once the school supplies get put away the Halloween decorations start and if that's not too much, like a week before Halloween even comes they're putting Christmas decorations out already! Thanksgiving is like the middle child that gets forgotten at the grocery store. Seriously.<br />
<br />
And once Thanksgiving does come and go in a flash, it all starts. The lists and the shopping and the decorating (or lack there of, in our case) and the baking and the date planning and the scheduling family events and the school programs and don't forget the miserable cold Wisconsin weather. So driving anywhere is a nightmare. It's just so much. And selfishly, I must admit, that since my birthday falls just 11 days before Christmas I always feel like an afterthought this time of the year. I wish it didn't overwhelm me so much, but it does.<br />
<br />
It just does.<br />
<br />
I mean, ask the Farmer how many melt downs I've had about how much I hate December.<br />
And it's only December 4th.<br />
<br />
I'm not proud of myself.<br />
<br />
I'm sure for others who can't wrap their heads around this "wonderful time of the year" it's because of missing loved ones, burnt bridges with family, lack of family - a spouse, children, parents, etc. There are many reason that people dread this season. And reflecting on just that is what has helped me change my attitude (at least start to) this year. Because I have been blessed beyond measure. I have a beautiful family, parents and in-laws whom I love, siblings to celebrate with, too many nieces and nephews to count, a beautiful home. I have my health, a car to drive, a job, plenty of money to buy all the gazillions of presents for everyone on my list. I have absolutely nothing except my own selfishness to blame my dislike for this time of the year.<br />
<br />
I heard a song on the radio (because you know, they think it's acceptable to play Christmas music on November 1st) and the lyrics said *something like* (because my memory fails me and I can't seem to find the song online) "God show me the wonder of heaven touching earth". The kids at church are singing a song that says "But God displayed his mercy, the greatest gift of love, when we could not reach heaven, <b>heaven came to us.</b>"<br />
<br />
Yes, THAT.<br />
<br />
<b>Heaven came to us. </b><br />
<br />
And that's why this is the most wonderful time of the year.<br />
Not because of presents, or cookies, or family, or presents.<br />
<br />
So over the past 4 days - well, 8 days because my meltdowns generally start on or before Thanksgiving - I've been praying for God to show me the wonder of heaven touching earth. When I start to feel overwhelmed by it all, I take a breath and remember that I'm clearly not worthy of heaven, so heaven so generously came to me. In the form of a baby. The King of Heaven humbled himself, came down from his throne. "He made a way in a manger, a way to the cross". Wrap your minds around that for a second.<br />
<br />
I know.<br />
<br />
Mind. Blown.<br />
<br />
Because when I think about how insignificant my anxieties are this time of year, I feel terribly guilty and selfish - which adds to my overall dislike for the season. But when I reflect on the beauty of a tiny little baby coming to this world, who would grow into a sinless man, a perfect sacrifice for my sin, I'm humbled. And I celebrate. Thank you, Jesus.<br />
<br />
And in the end, the shopping always gets done. The gifts always get wrapped, the cookies get baked, the schedules all align and it's always a happy ending. It's getting there that has been such a challenge for me. God's power is so much more than enough, but I need to remember and rest in His strength, not my own.<br />
<br />
In conclusion, Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday to the King! May His light shine this season - and may I remember exactly the reason for the season and not be overwhelmed by all the minor details.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><u>Jesus is the Reason for the Season.</u></span><br />
<br />
The Farmer's Humbled Wife<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-52307067865862885512015-11-03T15:07:00.000-08:002015-11-03T15:07:02.180-08:00Meal Prep Monday, Recipes & Award-Winning ChiliWell hey, it's been a hot minute.<br />
<br />
Or twelve.<br />
<br />
But who's counting? <br />
<br />
I've been dying to blog about food and I've actually had a few friends ask me to, but ya know. Life happens and blogging gets shoved way, way, way, wayyyyyyy down on the list of important things to do. On the list of things I wish I could do while neglecting anything resembling responsibility? First. <br />
<br />
I sincerely wish I could get my act together and make time in my day to write more, but it would most likely be at the expense of my precious beauty sleep. And that ain't happening.<br />
<br />
But, I digress.<br />
<br />
So it's been like all summer and then some. Many things have happened on the farm - the Farmer and Jack got a boat and spent most of the summer hours fishing and tubing and all the fun things that come along with owning a boat. We had a garden again but it wasn't very plentiful for some reason - tons of cucumbers, a handful of tomatoes and a couple green peppers. But the orchard was quite fruitful even in its infancy. We got a couple peaches, a couple apples and a couple pears. As summer slowly fades away I'm already longing for the days of warmth and swimming and late nights out. Oh sweet summer.<br />
<br />
I enjoy fall, don't get me wrong. The crisp air in the morning is one of my favorites - so long as it warms up to 65ish degrees during the day - I LOVE the crisp air. Fall brings with it a bunch of fun events at church - one of which is probably my very favorite event all year. The chili cook off!<br />
<br />
This year, like every year in the past, I entered a chili. Each year I have cooked in the chili cook off I use a different recipe. <a href="http://farmerswifelivinthecitylife.blogspot.com/2011/10/chili-cook-off.html">I wrote about it once.</a> I've used recipes online, I've made my own up. I've won and I've lost. <br />
<br />
I'm not even going to go into what kind of crazy, stupid day I had the morning of this year's chili cook off - it's really quite amazing that I even decided to cook chili and even show up. <br />
<br />
But whatever. <br />
<br />
This year, my homemade, self-invented chili recipe started a few days before the cook off. I was at my favorite store - Woodman's - perusing the reduced produce. Every morning between 8:30-9:30 AM they put out produce that will likely spoil within a couple days. Honestly, some of it is already kind of spoiled. It's to the point where you desperately need to cook it, freeze it, can it -- something to it, like, immediately. There was an entire bag - I mean like 9 or 10 red bell peppers for $0.99! So I grabbed them - I LOVE bell peppers in everything and they're really easy to prepare ahead of time.<br />
<br />
I cut them in half, pulled out the ribs and seeds and laid them skin-side-up on a parchment lined baking sheet. Then I put them into my 350 degree preheated oven and let them roast for a good 45ish minutes to an hour (depending on your oven temps, my oven temps tend to be slightly lesser than normal ovens) You want to get them to a soft roast where the skin starts to blister. If you've never roasted peppers before you might open the oven door and flip out because you burnt them. But it's totally fine if the skin is blistered and black. - if they're over cooked they'll turn into mush, which isn't ideal - so you want them to be soft and skin blistered.<br />
<a class="irc_mil i3597" data-noload="" data-ved="0CAcQjRxqFQoTCIusqamQ9cgCFcI9PgodwM8G8g" href="http://www.dishmaps.com/roasted-peppers/7895" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk"><img class="irc_mi" height="406" src="https://tutupaslab.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/roasted-peppers.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="611" /></a><br />
You can also do this at a higher heat for less time. Just Google "oven roasted peppers" and there's tons of ways to do it. <br />
<br />
When I take them out of the oven I just let them rest on the baking sheet until they are cool enough to handle. Then you can peel off the skins and place them in a bowl or on a plate or straight in a Ziploc. Then repeat the same thing but with poblano peppers. If you have two sheets you can roast them at the same time just switch racks half way in between. When I roasted the poblanos I also peeled about 2 whole heads of garlic as much as I could into individual cloves. And I quartered 4-5 shallots and threw the garlic, shallots and peppers all on the tray to roast. When the garlic comes out of the oven, the remaining layer of paper peels off pretty easily and you're left with this awesome, soft, roasted-garlic that compliments the roasted peppers so well!<br />
<br />
After I peeled everything I threw it all in a gallon sized Ziploc and threw it in the fridge. It sat there for the next two days until I made my chili. Maybe the flavors melded together even better, maybe not. I've also roasted the peppers, onions and garlic the same day I've made the chili - so either way, just do what's easiest! <br />
<br />
I'll spare you the nitty gritty details about browning meat and chopping onions, I'll just give you the good stuff. Behold, the recipe to my Cook-Off-Winning Chili:<br />
<br />
Roasted Pepper Chipotle Chili<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
1 lb Chorizo<br />
1 lb ground beef<br />
2 lb ground pork <br />
4-5 poblano peppers, roasted and peeled<br />
2-3 jalapeno peppers, roasted and peeled<br />
3-4 red bell peppers, roasted and peeled<br />
1 can Chiles in Adobo sauce (ribbed and seeded depending on how spicy you want it)<br />
1-2 heads of garlic, roasted and peeled<br />
3-4 shallots, roasted (or yellow onions work too)<br />
2 cups beef stock<br />
50 oz of your favorite salsa<br />
Beans (optional) <br />
<br />
Add the roasted peppers, chiles in adobo, roasted garlic and shallots to your blender or food processor. Blend until pureed, add just a little olive oil if it gets too thick. This should be the consistency of like tomato paste or slightly thinner. Set aside.<br />
<br />
Brown meats and add to a stockpot, do not drain (if you're picky about grease then drain partially but the chili gets a lot of its flavor from keeping the drippings in the pot. Note that I also do not have any added salt or seasonings, so the savory flavors come from the meat's drippings.) When all meat is mixed together in the stockpot, over med-low heat, add the pureed roasted pepper mixture. Mix until the puree coats the meat well. Add the salsa and stir well. Finally, since this will be a very hearty, thick chili, add up to 2 cups of beef stock to thin it out. If you like a thinner chili, feel free to add more salsa and more beef stock. I added one 28 oz can of black beans to my chili - but beans are a preference so they're optional. Bring it up to a boil, stirring often, then let it simmer for as long as you'd like - I put mine in a roaster/crock pot and let it simmer for 3-4 hours on low, stirring occasionally. <br />
<br />
I love this chili because I didn't use any dry seasonings. The chili was seasoned entirely from the roasted peppers, onions, garlic and with the flavors from the meats and salsa. It has a medium heat - but I would not say that it's spicy. If you'd like a completely mild chili - you can keep out the chiles in adobo and if you'd like it spicier, you can keep some of the seeds in the peppers and keep the seeds in the chiles in adobo. <br />
<img class="mainImage" data-bm="77" src="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/07/63/97/00/0007639700407_500X500.jpg" /><br />
These little guys pack a punch so it can help determine the spice level of your chili. I use an entire can but ribbed and seeded and I add a little of the sauce when I puree my peppers. <br />
<br />
And that's it. I'm not sure if that seems like a lot of work or not, but it's seriously the most delicious chili I've ever had. I have made it twice now - once for the chili cook off and once just two days ago when I did my meal prep for the week. I think one of the best things about chili is it lasts a while, freezes well and can be done in a day while you are doing other things because most of the time it's just simmering. <br />
<br />
Speaking of meal prep, I had a crazy awesome "Meal Prep Monday" yesterday! I stopped at Woodman's after I dropped Jack off at school and picked up some reduced produce. I had a big bag of tomatoes in the fridge that needed to be prepped and I picked up 2 big bags of bell peppers and jalapenos and I had two containers of mushrooms and a zucchini that needed to be used. In all I paid less than $5 for all the produce! As soon as I got home I cut the tomatoes in half and placed them skin-side-up on a parchment lined baking sheet. I roasted them for about 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees. When they were cool enough to handle I peeled the skin off and threw them in my ninja blender. I pureed them into a smooth sauce. Jarred them up and now I have the makings of marinara sauce for dinner on Thursday. I plan on adding some Italian sausage that I have in the freezer (also purchased in the Woodman's reduced meat section for less than $2) So for around $3 I have an entire meal that will feed my family and probably yield leftovers! <br />
<br />
The peppers I roasted and used in my chili. I did save out one and a half roasted red bell peppers and two cloves of roasted garlic and pureed them separately. I saved this puree in a small container. These are the makings of a red bell pepper cream sauce that we will be having with risotto and steak tomorrow night. I have made this <a href="http://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2012/06/post-grill-marinated-grilled-skirt-steak.html">grilled skirt steak</a> in the past and I intend to make it again tomorrow with parmesan risotto and use the red bell pepper cream sauce as a garnish.<br />
<br />
Red Bell Pepper Cream Sauce<br />
Ingredients:<br />
2 roasted red bell peppers<br />
3 cloves of roasted garlic<br />
<br />
Basic Cream Sauce:<br />
1 tablespoons butter<br />
1 tablespoons all purpose flour<br />
1 cup heavy cream<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
Add the roasted peppers and garlic to your blender and puree until smooth, adding a small amount of olive oil if it seems too thick. Set this mixture aside.<br />
<br />
Prepare a basic béchamel with the butter, flour and heavy cream. Start by melting the butter in a sauce pan, add the flour and whisk until the flour is well incorporated and the flour taste has cooked off (about 1-2 minutes) slowly whisk in 1/2 of the heavy cream and whisk constantly until it begins to thicken (about 1 minute) then add the remainder of the cream and whisk until it is a smooth, creamy sauce. Then you can add the roasted pepper and garlic puree. Combine well.<br />
<br />
This sauce is really good with seafood or chicken over pasta also. I love it with parmesan risotto!<br />
<br />
...back to meal prep.<br />
<br />
I used the zucchini and mushrooms to stuff peppers for tonight's dinner. I diced up the mushrooms and zucchini and sautéed them with a little onion and olive oil. I roasted whole peppers at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes - until they were soft but not totally roasted - I'm not looking for the blistered skin for these. I added the stuffing to the peppers and they are now waiting to hit the oven again to be warmed up for meal time. I had enough stuffing for 7 peppers so there are now 5 in the freezer for future meals!<br />
<br />
Thursday's dinner will be Italian sausage marinara over spaghetti (zucchini noodles for me), but I have not yet decided on how I am going to prepare my marinara. I can update when I find a recipe for that. <br />
<br />
As it stands, we're set to eat pretty well this week and I only spent $3 out of the grocery budget for November! I spent more than that on lunch supplies - but for the dinners that I prepared on Monday I literally only used what I had in my freezer and the $4 or $5 worth of produce I had sitting in my fridge! Now that feels like a serious accomplishment!<br />
<br />
Here's to making this a new habit! Happy meal prepping!<br />
<br />
From the kitchen,<br />
The Farmer's WifeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-30544046015806256032015-07-22T21:55:00.002-07:002015-07-22T22:03:56.592-07:00Moments for Teaching GraceAs I've said before, I'm not much a spiritual blogger - but sometimes, things during my day will leave me broken and overwhelmed and sometimes in the midst of the brokenness and sadness I am overcome with such a grace-filled attitude that I am <i>certain </i> the only explanation is the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
Today, I had one of those moments.<br />
<br />
We were at Target, of course. Jack had already put in a full day at Bible camp and I needed to get caught up on all the things on my checklist for my big church event this weekend. We started at Starbucks (as we so-often do) and the chocolate milk and vanilla bean frappuccino bought me a few precious, non-drama-filled moments perusing the glorious aisles of Target.<br />
<br />
I took my time and the kids were being [sort-of] good. Somewhere in the middle, Jack had asked for some neon colored pencils, fresh from the fully-stocked school supply aisle. I asked him if he'd be willing to pay me back for them (they were $2.99 for 8 measly pencils) and he agreed and made it clear that he really, really wanted these pencils. He'd been good and had listened so I said he could get them. We then hit the candy aisle to buy some prizes for the event and I let him pick out a bag of candy that he would be able to share with the Farmer's softball team later in the evening.<br />
<br />
...and then it all went down hill from there...<br />
<br />
I'm really not sure what happened, but it was like he hit a wall. When he's over tired he gets overly emotional, he shuts down and he gets angry and naughty. He began bossing his sister around, yelling at her to get back in the cart and when I kindly asked him to stop and reassured him that I would take care of corralling princess back into the cart, he didn't let up. I mean, it was weird. For those of you that know Jack, he has the kindest heart, the sweetest disposition and is rarely upset or angry. And it got to the point where I had had enough.<br />
<br />
As we made our final walk down the main aisle to the check out, he broke the last straw. I asked him 3 separate times to not climb in and out of the cart because his dear sister insists on copying his every move and would end up hurting herself. He continued to ignore my requests and I calmly said - "that's it, they're going back - both of them" and I set the treat and the colored pencils back on a shelf and we walked away.<br />
<br />
His heart shattered. I immediately saw the repentance and shame in his eyes. He knew he had hurt me by not listening. I know that sweet boy and he doesn't like to disappoint me. So I'm not sure what hurt him more, the fact that he had failed me, or the fact that he didn't get his treasures. He cried, but tried to fight back the tears. He didn't put up a fight or throw a tantrum, he just sat down and silently wept to himself because he knew he was wrong. He knew that losing the treats was his fault.<br />
<br />
I explained on the rest of the walk to the register that when we disobey there are consequences and that he had disobeyed too many times today so he wasn't going to get his treats.<br />
<br />
And then something inside me hit me like a Mack truck.<br />
<br />
How many times have I failed my God? Countless.<br />
<br />
And how many times has He remained faithful, generous and loving? Countless.<br />
<br />
I don't deserve any of God's grace, but He gives it so willingly anyways. And that was on my heart in that moment. I felt like it was such a clear way to show how much we don't deserve God's love, yet it's always there.<br />
<br />
I passed up the party bag aisle and sent Jack down to pick out 4 party bags for me that I needed for the prizes. As he obliged, I told him I forgot one thing and I'd be right back to pick him up in that aisle. I snuck back to the shelf I had discarded his treat and pencils on and hid them under the piles of picnic supplies in my cart. We picked Jack back up in the party aisle and headed to the checkout.<br />
<br />
AND, as luck would have it, or as God so cleverly planned, Jack needed to go to the bathroom as we approached the lanes. So he went to use the men's room and I paid for his goodies and hid them in my purse.<br />
<br />
After I was all checked out and loaded up with all my purchases, I waited for Jack outside the restrooms. He walked out, his head still hung in sadness. I <i>knew, </i>that he knew he was wrong. So I asked him why those things were taken away from him.<br />
<br />
He said "because I didn't listen."<br />
<br />
I reminded him, though, that there's good news.<br />
<br />
"What good news?" he asked, grumpily.<br />
<br />
I asked him - what do we know is true when we mess up?<br />
<br />
He knew the answer - but it took a little coaxing. "What is always true?"<br />
<br />
"God and Jesus forgive us, all the time." He finally answered.<br />
<br />
And I explained that since Jesus took the penalty for our sins, God could forgive us when we mess up. And since God always forgives, we need to always forgive each other. And I asked him "you know what that means?"<br />
<br />
"You forgive me?" He said with tears in his eyes. And I nodded my head and hugged him.<br />
He cried a very hard, sad cry with his arms wrapped tightly around me. It was a moment that I don't want to forget because I felt his repentance in his embrace and in his tears. He was <i>truly</i> sorry.<br />
<br />
I continued, "God's forgiveness is a gift that we don't deserve." And I pulled the two little treats out from my bag and handed them to him. "Just like you don't really deserve these treats, neither do we deserve the grace that God gives through Jesus. But He loves us SO much that he sent Jesus in our place."<br />
<br />
But now, we need to work on being better. We're never going to be perfect and there's no such thing as earning grace. Grace is FREE. It came at a cost - Jesus' life. The price has been paid. In full.<br />
<br />
This might be really far fetched, but for a 6-year-old brain to try to comprehend God's never-failing, never-ending grace, I just thought I'd give it a try. I mean, really I still have a hard time wrapping my 29-year-old brain around God's love. Then I told Jack I loved him - and reminded him that the God of our Universe loves him even more than I ever could - how AWESOME is <i>that</i>?<br />
<br />
On the way out to the car that we talked about how we need to work on obeying the first time and remember that since we were so wonderfully forgiven that we, too, should forgive. When someone hurts us or sins against us, we should not be mean or harsh, but show love and forgiveness.<br />
<br />
I don't have all the answers. Some people might think I did the wrong thing by giving him the treats even though he disobeyed. But I feel like moments like this are so few and far between for me. And God spoke so clearly to my heart and so quickly (sometimes I feel like it happens after-the-fact and I think "gosh, that would have been a great way to teach him ____") that I would have regretted not acting on my instincts. I'm glad I did.<br />
<br />
The colored pencils sit on the kitchen table awaiting a new day to be colored with. Jack decided to forgo the softball game and instead helped me with my work out. I worked out - he ate candy. I snuggled with him and talked about his day before bed and I continue to treasure every moment I have while he's this impressionable. I've read far too many blog posts lately about how kids with have their "lasts" or how fast they grow up. And the one line that rings in my mind just about every day...<br />
<br />
<i>"There will be a time when you put him down and don't pick him back up" </i><br />
<br />
Oh, my heart breaks to think of that day.<br />
<br />
Tonight Jack prayed for all the people in the whole entire world to have good dreams and no nightmares. Tonight, I'm thankful for teachable moments and pray that I have more of them everyday.<br />
<br />
God is good, all the time.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
The Farmer's WifeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-22671930653780532022015-07-15T22:20:00.001-07:002015-07-15T22:20:35.002-07:00Home Stretch and Lactation CookiesWell everyone, Sunday marks day 22 of my "21 Days" which means I would have officially completed 21 days of clean eats and working out. I'm still down 5 lbs, my workouts have not gotten harder, but they've not gotten easier...so there's that. I need to push myself. I had a goal to lose another 7 lbs before the end, but I'm just not sure it's going to happen. As far as eating, I've been doing great staying on track. My biggest "fail" was today, I made quesadillas for dinner, I made mine in a corn tortilla and put minimal cheese on it, but when the Farmer left a piece of his *loaded with cheese and sour cream in a flour tortilla* version, I finished it because I didn't want it to go to waste - rather than make myself another in a corn tortilla. So for the sake of the budget I had to "take one for the team"....I guess. But, honestly, it could have been worse. I'm going to push hard to the end here and eat less starches - we had potatoes with dinner last night - and load up on salads and veggies.<br />
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T minus 3 days and counting. And really, I don't think much will change come day 22...in fact, I'd like to start over again on Monday. I have a church lunch meeting on Sunday (which worked out perfectly) and I'm ordering Jimmy Johns, so I'm probably going to indulge...and then jump right back in on Monday for another 21 days. And so on....<br />
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Cooking has been a lot of fun! Trying new recipes and cooking with healthier fats, staying away from refined sugar, grains and starches and being completely gluten free (minus the 1/4 of a flour tortilla tonight) for the past 18 days has been wonderful. I haven't felt this good in quite sometime - hence not really wanting to stop! I've also been able to prepare some good, healthy meals for my incredible brother-in-law and his wife who just had triplets.<br />
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TRIPLETS.<br />
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As in: THREE babies. At. One. Time.<br />
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They are rock stars. These three, healthy, beautiful babes are just so beyond loved and their mom and dad are just rocking out at being new parents. I went to drop off dinner last night....I kid you not, the house was in order, the dog greeted me silently at the door and you could have heard a pin drop it was so quiet. Marlie, Dylan and Dax slept peacefully, nestled comfortably in their own sleep-baby-gadget. I got to hold and snuggle sweet Dylan for a bit and I just couldn't get her precious face out of my brain for the rest of the night. I mean, seriously. I love those kiddos more than words.<br />
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Oh, and my sister-in-law, who also happens to be my hero, is breastfeeding all the babies. Like, exclusively. I mean, c'mon! So when she texted me and asked if I could look into some lactation cookie recipes for her - I was like HECK YEA, MOM!<br />
<br />Since I sucked at nursing my own babies, I find pure joy in helping this mom (and dear sister of mine) totally succeed at nursing not one, not two, but all three of her precious miracles. And I got to do more research on healthy foods, grain free baking and experiment with new recipes - duh! Win-win. These cookies smell so good! And you don't have to be a nursing mom to get health benefits from them. Flax seed, brewers yeast, fenugreek and oatmeal have tons of nutrients that keep all humans healthy - but the specific combination of those ingredients also happens to have a direct effect on milk supply for nursing moms.<br />
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I followed <a href="http://www.mnn.com/family/babies-pregnancy/blogs/chocolate-chip-gluten-free-lactation-cookies">this recipe</a> from Mother Nature Network to a T. The good news is I have lots of the fenugreek, flax meal and brewers yeast left over so I'll be figuring out other ways to incorporate these ingredients into treats for her! Not to mention, this recipe yielded 3 dozen cookies - which is more than usual for grain-free recipes. They tend to be on the smaller side, but this was like making a normal batch of chocolate chip cookies. My next endeavor is something cleverly coined "Booby Bites" - that's on my agenda for tomorrow!<br />
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So that's it. If you are a nursing mom and want to increase your milk supply - just head over to Pinterest! There are tons of recipes and ideas for using these ingredients (Flax, Fenugreek & Brewer's Yeast) and they're relatively easy to find (I bought all of them at Woodman's pretty inexpensively). Wish I would have had Pinterest when I was a new mom. Or when I got married...ugh, Pinterest wedding boards make me queasy. Oh the things I could have done!<br />
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Oh well, happiness cannot be pinned on a board.<br />
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Alright, here's to tomorrow going well - I'm excited to try some of the *official* Shakeology protein shakes - my cousin kindly sent me some samples. And I may sneak one of the lactation cookies ;)<br />
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Good night!<br />
-The Farmer's Wife<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-47613365692011489192015-07-09T15:49:00.003-07:002015-07-09T15:49:49.562-07:0021 Days11/21: Half way there!<br />
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I have been doing a "21 Day Fix" of sorts. I kind of modified it to work for me. And by modified it, I basically mean that I didn't purchase a program and I'm not doing the certified beach-body-shakology-21-day-fix-program. I have been doing a lot of reading about the program and studied meal plans, figured out my target caloric intake, found a few good work outs that I've been doing (about 4x a week - I'm still working on getting that up to at least 6) and I'm doing the "21 Day Fix" by myself.</div>
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Just to set the record straight, its not because I have anything against the program, obviously I think it's worth while if I'm willing to go to all this trouble to mimic it.</div>
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BUT. I have a hard time spending money and staying consistent. The farmer can vouch for how many failed gym memberships I have bought and he paid for. I went a couple times and then quit. I didn't want to set myself up for that type of failure again. You'd think when you invest money that would be the best type of motivation - so you at the very least get your "money's worth". But, nope. Not me. I rarely do things that make practical sense. Hence my homegrown version.</div>
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If I do a good job and get results (which I already have!) I am going to consider trying the actual thing. I have lots of friends and family that have done it and so I have endless resources. One of my cousins, Katie, has started her health and wellness overhaul and her results are nothing short of an inspiration! I follow her progress on Facebook and knowing that someone with the same genes as I can look so incredible and make such a transformation is so encouraging! So, shout out to Katie- you've been a great encouragement in helping me stay on track - thanks and keep up the good work!</div>
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In a nut shell, I've eaten totally clean for the last 11 days with no cheats and no failures. I've prepped most of my meals and if I find myself in a bind and need to eat on the go - which has only happened once - I grab a salad with NO dressing (lemon wedges and sea salt, does the trick every time!) I usually have a protein shake or two during the day to help supplement my meals. My snacks are usually fruit or veggies or nuts/seeds. Breakfast is usually a protein shake + banana or some of the <a href="http://mommayoungathome.com/homemaking/recipes-3/easy-freezer-recipes-paleo-coconut-pecan-breakfast-bars/">Paleo Pecan</a> bars I made the other day. I usually still have my coffee - either black or with a splash of almond milk and I drink water. All. Day. Long. </div>
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It is an incredible feeling to have been successful this far. I did have 3 fries from the kids McDonald's bag yesterday. And in 11 days that was it. And I weigh 5 lbs less thanks to my dedication. I can start to see my arms looking more toned and my belly is flatter - now just to get it a little leaner. And I feel great! Back in December I bought a pair of pants in a size 10 - which fit but were tight. Now those pants practically fall off of me! And today I just purchased a size 6 jeans!! So from a 12 to a 6 in 7 months is pretty exciting for me! </div>
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I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that I think I may be completely transformed. Because since December 15 I've had "practice" in eating clean. I certainly had my bad days in there, but as a whole I've eaten much healthier than any other time in my life. I no longer crave the same foods I once craved and french fries remain my one and only weakness. And honestly there's not too much wrong with french fries in and of themselves, but they are fried and salty and they taste even better drenched in ranch...so there's that. But being down 3 full sizes and feeling amazing is totally worth it! And after this first round of "21 Days" I will have a few fries. But then I'm going to start again.<br />
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There's something about 21 days that just doesn't sound super intimidating. It's completely attainable. I just keep the end goal in mind and it's not a big deal to skip treats and junk food. Not to mention I hate how I feel after I eat that stuff! I started on June 29th and I made it through July 4th fireworks and a couple cook outs and parties with friends and wasn't even tempted to cheat and have a treat or two. It's been liberating.<br />
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I just want to end with a challenge. People - if I can do this, ANYONE can do it. But YOU have to do it. There's no magic pill or secret diet. Seriously though, it's really not hard, it just requires 100% dedication. Eat healthy and exercise. I'm still working on the exercise part - but I do work out at least 4x per week which for me is a huge increase! I'm working on getting that up to 6x.<br />
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I do have one little tip - but it's really not a secret. Anyone who eats healthy and lives a clean lifestyle will tell you this. FOOD PREP IS KEY! If you want to eat well and not be tempted with treats and junk, then you NEED to prepare your food. It's the only way to be 100% in control of what you're putting into your body. I use one day a week to prepare at least one type of protein (enough for 4-5 meals) so that if I find myself pressed for time I can at least count on something quick. Other days when I have the time, I just cook all my meals when I eat them. I also bake/prepare snacks and quick eats to have for breakfast and snacks throughout the day. My shaker bottle has a compartment for an extra serving of protein powder so I make sure to take that with me along with a big bottle of water so in the very least I can have a protein shake if I am feeling hungry and don't have anything.<br />
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I'm so happy I decided to take control of my eating habits. Obviously, for some of us it's a bigger deal than others. If you're like the farmer, you can eat anything and everything and just burn it all away doing your everyday activities. Others of us, though, need to be intentional and dedicated and put much thought into what we do and don't eat and how we burn off the unneeded calories. It sucks to have to think about it, but it's totally worth it.<br />
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So there's my challenge - take control of your health! If it's not about losing weight then let it be about being healthy. Whether you gain weight or not when you eat junk food it's still not good for you. Our bodies were not designed to process all those chemicals and additives. Do your body a favor and clean up your diet, you'll be so thankful you did!<br />
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Cheers!<br />
-The Farmer's Wife<br />
(someday hoping to sign this the Farmer's "Fit" Wife, almost there, but not quite!)</div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-68431442756794333622015-06-11T08:25:00.000-07:002015-06-11T08:25:53.849-07:00The Good News & The Bad News: Agave and Chia<b>The Good News</b>: Chia seeds are legit a really good choice for healthy eating. The are loaded with tons of nutrients including fiber, antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids and protein. They really don't have much flavor so adding a tablespoon here or there doesn't really affect the taste of your food - but it packs it with extra healthiness! I read a few articles about them, <a href="http://authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds/">but this one was the most straight-forward, easy to understand</a>. I'm excited to start using these in more of my baking and cooking. In fact, I made a blueberry smoothie this morning and added a good heaping tablespoon.<br />
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Blueberry Protein Smoothie<br />
1 Packet EAS Vanilla Protein powder<br />
1 cup Almond Milk<br />
A whole lot of blueberries - I used probably 2 cups, but I needed to get rid of them because they were nearing the end of their freshness - so it was smoothie or garbage, so I just used them all.<br />
1 tablespoon Chia Seeds<br />
Ice<br />
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I blended this all together in my ninja blender and it tastes great! I had one of my chocolate chip muffins with it for breakfast - I am still nursing the smoothie because it's huge! It filled up like a 24 oz mason jar. I mean, it's HUGE.<br />
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Win for the chia seeds! I plan to add them to oatmeal and I see a lot more smoothies in my future! Thanks to some couponing magic, I have about 20 packets of EAS protein powder in my pantry that I got for FREE! It was actually a huge money maker. At the time I only bought it because they literally paid me like $1.50 to take 2 packets out of the store- I had multiple coupons so I have a whole bunch of the stuff just taking up space in my cabinet. I'm excited to finally use it!<br />
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<b>The Bad News</b>: Agave nectar is probably the worst possible choice for a "natural" sweetener. I'm literally better off using granulated cane sugar. Big healthy fail on that one. It's so yummy though, and much easier to use than honey. Oh well. Glad I decided to do a little research before I kept using it! I have a whole bottle unopened in my pantry - I wonder if Woodman's would let me return it?<br />
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Turns out it's really high in fructose which is not easily digestible so it is also really high in carbohydrates - exactly what I'm trying to stay away from! I also read a bunch of articles about Agave nectar and really didn't find anything positive about the stuff. <a href="http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/">This one had the most helpful information</a>.<br />
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So there you have it.<br />
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Oh, more good news: I DID get up and run this morning! It was short because I found a great new jogging stroller on a Facebook rummage site that I went and picked up right away because I always miss the good stuff! So I cut my run short so that I could get my hands on that...and it is awesome! I love it-can't wait to take princess for another [longer] run later when the boys are at softball.<br />
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Happy Thursday everyone!<br />
-The Farmer's Wife-Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-72688141464368212872015-06-10T21:05:00.003-07:002015-06-10T21:05:45.304-07:00Coconut Flour Muffins & Other Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today I dabbled in grain-free baking.<br />
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Grain. Free.<br />
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Wait, what?<br />
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I know what you're thinking. I promise - I thought so too.<br />
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But these muffins are really <i>pretty good.</i> And I only say "pretty good" because if you eat full gluten and enjoy "regular" muffins with no second thoughts, then you will probably know the difference between these and "regular muffins".<br />
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BUT.<br />
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If you are looking for a reasonable substitute for easy eats (like muffins) without all the processed sugar, carbs and calories - then look no further.<br /><br />First, I did what every red-blooded American does when they need something, I Googled "Paleo Blueberry Muffins". Google introduced me to this handy link: <a href="http://paleogrubs.com/blueberry-muffin-recipes">PALEO GRUBS</a>. I studied a few of these recipes until I found one that contained <i>mostly</i> ingredients that I already had on hand. I was planning a trip to the store, but didn't really want to invest a whole bunch of money into ingredients to just <i>try</i> this, ya know?<br />
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Enter, <a href="http://www.brookes-kitchen.com/2013/08/the-best-low-carb-blueberry-muffins.html">THE BEST LOW CARB BLUEBERRY MUFFINS</a>. The only thing I did not have on hand was Chia seeds - which quite honestly I'm still not even sure what they are, but they sound super healthy and I'm pretty sure I saw them on a Super Food list on Pinterest.<br />
<br />Seems legit.<br />
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So off to the store I went, got my Chia seeds and I was back in business. I <i>sort of </i>followed this recipe-but made a few minor modifications based on what I had on hand and what I like.<br /><br />I don't really do the whole Stevia thing. I don't know, it just seems weird. But honey, agave nectar and maple syrup are my friends. I use those in place of any and all other sweeteners. I also had a whole boat load of fresh blueberries I wanted to use up so I skipped the frozen thing. Or I 'let it go', if you will.<br />
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Ha.<br />
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Ok, focus. I also kept out the vanilla extract because (gasp) I only had IMITATION vanilla - ew. Ok, but for real. I just read a whole bunch of stuff about MSG and Vanillin and this stuff was basically 100% chemicals. So I figured I was better off keeping it out of my precious paleo muffins.<br />
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Then I dumped out the whole rest of the bottle of fake vanilla.<br />
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Then I went to Sendik's and bought real vanilla extract. Ok, I'm getting ahead of myself. I went later - after dinner. I digress....<br />
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So this is what <i>my </i>version of the recipe for Paleo Blueberry Muffins is:<br />
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Set oven to 350 Degrees<br />
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1/2 Cup Almond Milk (because I didn't have coconut milk)<br />
1/2 Cup Coconut Flour<br />
1 TBSP Chia Seeds<br />
2 TSP Baking Powder<br />
3 Eggs *laid TODAY*<br />
3 TBSP (plus an extra drizzle, for good measure) Raw Agave Nectar<br />
*some* Lemon Zest - I just kind of zested some in there - it was supposed to be measured, but I got all Martha Stewart and just eye balled it.<br />
1/2-3/4 Cup Fresh Blueberries<br />
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Combine it all - I just used a wire whisk then folded in the blueberries when the batter was completely incorporated. Pour the batter into greased or paper-lined muffin tins. I yielded 7 muffins, I probably could have gone lighter on the batter in each cup and squeaked out a few more.<br />
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Bake them for 25 minutes and let them cool completely before you take them out of the tin.<br />
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I just greased the tins, and they did stick a little to the bottom, so you might be better off using paper liners.<br />
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So there you have it. Oh, and they tasted really good. I put some butter on it - and you know what? I kind of felt like I was at Panera for a second. Because I don't care what you say, Panera Bread has THE BEST blueberry muffins that ever were in the history of the world. The end.<br />
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So those were so yummy that I figured I really should try it with the <i>actual</i> vanilla extract and heck, throw some dark chocolate chips in and it would be like healthy person dessert! So I went to Sendik's.<br />
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I wish I had millions of dollars. Because I would shop at Sendik's. But, I wanted nice steaks for dinner and they have the best so I went to Sendik's and spent 5% of my entire month's budget on steak and vanilla extract. Hashtag: moneywellspent.<br />
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And after we ate our steaks (which were delicious, if you wanted to know) I baked some even-more-delicious-than-the-blueberry Chocolate Chip Muffins. Using what I knew from the other recipe -I invented this recipe using my favorite ingredients.<br />
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COCONUT FLOUR CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS<br />
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1/2 Cup Coconut Flour (Bob's Red Mill)<br />
1/2 Cup Almond Milk (Califia Farms)<br />
3 TBSP (plus an extra drizzle for good measure) Raw Agave Nectar<br />1 TSP Pure Vanilla Extract<br />
1/2 TSP Pure Almond Extract<br />
1/2-3/4 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips (53% Cacao)<br />
1 TBSP Chia Seeds<br />
2 TSP Baking Powder<br />
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Combine it all together with a wire whisk, pour into lined muffin tins and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. I got a half a dozen from this recipe. They're super yummy with a little butter.<br />
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So yea....go me. Between these coconut flour delicacies and the homemade granola bars I made last week-my breakfasts have been pretty fantastic! Add my home-brewed iced coffee with a splash of coconut milk and seriously I'm hashtag livingthelife!<br />
<br />Assuming I can keep up with the food prep that is required with this type of lifestyle, I should be made in the shade. I eat so well and I haven't sacrificed <i>too much</i> of the convenience. I'm still trying to make up the ground I lost in my relapse - but I've only got 3 more pounds to go until I'm back to where I was just a few weeks ago.<br />
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Here's to running tomorrow morning, like I said I would. I have been getting up early, but filling my time with other things. I cleaned the laundromat today at 6:30 AM because I could go without the kids - and going to the laundromat with kids during a busy time is pretty much suicide. So that, in my opinion, was time well spent. <br />
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But tomorrow, tomorrow I have NO excuses.<br />
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So there.<br />
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Ok, good night.<br />
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6:30 AM comes awfully early.<br />
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-Peace-<br />
*The Farmer's Wife*Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-6202472637158046462015-05-26T19:51:00.000-07:002015-05-26T19:51:51.215-07:00Relapse and Recovery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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April was a rough patch in my healthy living journey. I had a ton of stuff going on and I used my busyness as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted. I started with a "cheat day" to reward myself for all my hard work and planning with some events for church and slowly slipped down the slippery slope of unhealthy living. I consider the last month a relapse and I'm on the road to recovery now!<br />
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I tried to evaluate what happened and how I got so far off course. It really came down to convenience and needing to eat on the go. Today marked my new starting point and I used the better part of the day to prep my meals and snacks for the next week as to prevent the temptation to run through a drive thru because I don't have time to make something. It's also much more cost effective! I ran to Woodman's last night and purchased a few things that I needed to assemble my meals and today I went to town prepping. I spent $49 and I got: raw agave nectar, dried cranberries, 60% cacao chocolate chips, 2 pints of blackberries, 2 pints of raspberries, 2 pints of strawberries, almond coffee creamer, rolled oats, 2 heads of romaine lettuce, 5 lbs of broccoli, 1/2 lb of jalapenos, 12 oz of feta cheese, 2 red onions, 4 lbs of brown rice, 1 mango.<br />
When I got home from the store last night I made a jar of pico de gallo - 2 minced jalapenos, 3 diced roma tomatoes, 1/2 minced red onion juice from a small lime and some salt. Mixed it all together and it made the perfect addition to my rice bowl lunch!<br />
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This morning I prepped 2 cups of rice, 4 chicken breasts and 2 lbs of broccoli. I also made homemade granola bars. One of my other down falls is breakfast. I often skip it and being the "most important meal of the day" I figured I should probably start eating it. The granola bars are AMAZING, not to mention super easy to make. I'll share in detail what I did, in case you're interested.<br />
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Homemade Granola Bars - adapted from the recipe found <a href="http://www.fivehearthome.com/2014/02/02/chewy-no-bake-granola-bars-with-coconut-oil/">here.</a><br />
2 1/2 Cups Rolled Oats (old fashioned oats) - not quick oats<br />
1 Cup Nut Butter (I used all natural peanut butter)<br />
1/2 Cup Agave Nectar<br />
1/2 Cup Coconut Oil<br />
1 Cup Udi's Gluten Free Granola (Vanilla)<br />
Handful of dark chocolate chips (Ghiradelli 60% cacao chips)<br />
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Combine nut butter, agave nectar and coconut oil in a sauce pan on medium low heat, stirring until smooth and melted. Add Granola and oats and combine well. Spread with spatula into a 9x13ish pan (mine was a tin foil 10 x 8 so my bars were just a bit thicker). Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Cut into squares or bars and store in the refrigerator - either individually wrapped in plastic or in an air tight container with wax or parchment paper separating the layers.<br />
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These were seriously delicious. I ate a couple small pieces with half a banana for breakfast with my coffee and I was stuffed until lunch time. I mean I was almost still too full to eat lunch, but my lunch was amazing so I couldn't not eat it.<br />
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This Califia Farms Almond Milk creamer is pretty awesome too. I used a little too much for my tastes, but it tasted just like having a vanilla latte with only 15 calories! I love that I can have my Starbucks(ish) coffee in the morning without the guilt of added empty calories. I NEED my coffee.<br />
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The rice, broccoli and chicken prep was surprisingly simple. Rice pretty much cooks itself - but I have to say I was nervous since the only rice I generally make is like instant rice or risotto. The suspense nearly killed me - you just put the stock and rice in the pot, cover it and don't touch it for like an hour. I about died because I like to have constant control over the status of things I cook, so this was really new for me. I know, I'm nuts. But seriously, I couldn't take it. While the rice was cooking I cut up a large head of broccoli into florets and preheated my oven for the chicken. I baked the chicken with just a little Montreal chicken seasoning and some kosher salt at 375 for probably 30 minutes. I baked them until the internal temp was 160. I steamed the broccoli in a large skillet filled with about 1/2 inch of water for like 10 minutes until it was bright green and cooked but crunchy. When my rice was done I spread it in a tin foil pan to let it cool, I put the broccoli and a storage container and let it cool with the cover off - same with the chicken.<br />
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I know a lot of people do meal prep in individual containers for each day, but since I'm mostly a stay at home mom I just did them each in their own large container and if I am going out at all I will just package myself up a box for that day. This way I can have the flexibility of making it for home or more than one serving if the farmer happens to want some of this deliciousness (instead of Taco Bell). </div>
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Today I used some of the pico de gallo that I made last night and the rice, chicken, black beans and an avocado to make a burrito bowl. O. M. G. It was fantastic. And it didn't even have sour cream or cheese! Who knew. I mean it was so good I had it again for dinner. Tomorrow I'm going to have chicken, broccoli and rice for lunch. </div>
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So there you have it, my recovery has been a success so far. Today was good. I ate well and until I was full and I was not tempted to run through a drive-thru at all. My fitness goals include running every day and doing some type of ab/strength work out. My goal is to continue getting up at 7 AM (the time I get up to take Jack to school) through the summer and do my workout from 7-8 AM before the farmer leaves for work. These sound lofty, but I think I can do it. After all, I have been getting up at 7 AM for the past 9 months and I KNOW I will have so much more energy and get so much more accomplished during my day if I take the time to work out and exercise. </div>
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Looking forward to tomorrow!</div>
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-The Farmer's Wife</div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-35203359573300956142015-03-09T08:45:00.002-07:002015-03-09T08:46:05.633-07:00Food on the FarmI'm currently beginning month 4 of gluten freedom. I have had a coupe rough patches where I ran out of will power and just needed a piece of bread. But they were few and far between. I ate fast food for the first time in almost 4 months on Saturday, the Farmer and I went on a day road trip to Green Bay and we stopped at Burger King. Last time I got a salad and I was less than impressed so I figured if I was going to eat something gross and terrible for me, I might as well enjoy a little bread, right?! So I had a chicken sandwich - it was OK. I sincerely do not miss fast food. French fries, though....they continue to be my biggest weakness. They're technically gluten free- but they're fried and salty and ranch dressing makes them so irresistible. Baby steps!<br />
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This morning I tried those 3 Ingredient Paleo Pancakes you've seen floating around Facebook and Pinterest and since social media claims they're amazing I figured I would give them a try....<br />
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To put it lightly, they left something to be desired. </div>
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I was expecting a stack of fluffy, delicious pancakes. Instead, I managed to not screw up 2 of them. They were tricky to flip and the first 4 didn't make it past the first side. The final product was more like banana flavored scrambled eggs than the fluffy short stack I had envisioned. I even cooked them with coconut oil and used Agave Nectar instead of syrup. I added fresh strawberries to the top and ate both of them and I am full. They weren't terrible, but probably won't be on my menu list regularly. The person who claimed these things were so amazing must have never had the real thing because we're talking about apples and oranges here. There was no comparison.</div>
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So that's it, that was just my little review of the 3 ingredient pancakes that Facebook is raving about.</div>
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In case you'd like to try them anyways, here's what I did:<br />
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I started with 2 eggs, 2 bananas peeled and mashed, a dash of cinnamon and a little bit of vanilla extract. Whisked it all together with a fork and it becomes a nice little batter.<br />
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I warmed a skillet on medium heat and sprayed it with some expeller pressed coconut oil. Like I mentioned flipping them was a little tricky and in order to get them to flip and not fall apart I turned the heat down a little after pouring the batter and cooked them for 3-4 minutes per side.<br />
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They never reached the sightly crispy hard exterior that I was expecting - like with traditional pancakes. They were just soft - like scrambled egg consistency. The flavor was fine, just not what I was expecting texture wise.<br />
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So there you have it. Don't let me discourage you - again, they weren't terrible and I am pretty full considering I only had 2. This recipe probably would have yielded 6-8 pancakes had I not screwed 3/4 of them up.<br />
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If you're interested in a recipe that I actually really LOVED and will be adding to my regular rotation then I'll share with you what I had for dinner last night! SALMON EN PAPILLOTE which sounds super fancy and if you ever want to impress someone with your culinary skills (whether you actually possess any or not) make this dish! Seriously requires little to no cooking skill. Sometimes if you don't cook a lot making something like salmon can be intimidating. But making anything en papillote (which literally means in paper) is super easy and dummy-proof!</div>
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I followed the recipe found <a href="http://www.jessicagavin.com/test-kitchen/fast/salmon-en-papillote-vegetables/" target="_blank">here</a> at<a href="http://www.jessicagavin.com/" target="_blank"> Jessica Gavin </a> Culinary Scientist. I also just looked at the date on this post and it was 12/15/14 - the exact day I changed my eating habits for the better....funny coincidence.</div>
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I made a few minor mods. I didn't have carrots so I just omitted them. I started with my asparagus (trimmed the bottoms a little) on the bottom of my paper pouch (I followed her recommendation of 15"x 18" piece of parchment paper cut into a heart shape) topped the asparagus with thinly sliced red onion, then my salmon which I seasoned with a little minced garlic (about 1 tsp or less) kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. I skipped the lemon zest and just put a pinwheel of lemon on top with a little bit of chopped fresh chives. Finally (not pictured) I put a couple dollops of the basil compound butter she had in the recipe - it's pretty amazing, but if you're satisfied with conquering one culinary trick at a time then regular butter will suffice!</div>
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Oven heated to 450 degrees and popped these babies in for about 10 minutes. Once you fold over the pouches, put them on a cookie sheet for easy handling. </div>
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The finished product:</div>
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Just cut open the pouch and serve! She explains the science behind how it cooks but basically the steam cooks the fish and veggies perfectly inside the pouch. So no flipping, sauteing or boiling necessary. Just super flavorful food not to mention extremely healthy. And the Farmer LOVED it. So that's a triple win!</div>
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The menu for this week includes<br />
<a href="http://www.eatthelove.com/2014/05/skirt-steak-recipe/" target="_blank"> marinated skirt steak tacos</a> +<a href="http://farmerswifelivinthecitylife.blogspot.com/2014/05/well-here-i-go-again.html" target="_blank"> avocado cucumber relish</a></div>
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<a href="http://littlebcooks.blogspot.com/2012/04/island-pork-tenderloin.html" target="_blank">Marinated Pork Tenderloin</a></div>
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and probably shrimp risotto - because when I'm not sure what to make I just default to risotto.<br />
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I also invented an amazing home made chicken salad recipe that I was eating for lunch last week. I'm going to attempt to recreate it this afternoon and hopefully post about it later. It was fabulous wrapped in some big lettuce leaves or just over greens as a salad. Yum, now my mouth is watering. Time to go!</div>
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Happy cooking - from the Farm,</div>
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The Farmer's Wife</div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-88366928022516537062015-01-23T15:21:00.001-08:002015-01-23T15:21:25.233-08:00Broken RecordRemember this <a href="http://farmerswifelivinthecitylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/clean-eatinga-no-brainer-for-farmers.html" target="_blank">post</a>? The one about how I said I was fed up with my old eating habits and I was going to eat "clean"? <div>
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[excuse me]</div>
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HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahahahahahahahahaha. Ha ha. Ha. </div>
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Okay, but really. I really thought I could do it. And I even said <a href="http://farmerswifelivinthecitylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-said-i-was-dead-serious.html" target="_blank">I was dead serious.</a> Because I was. I really wanted to change. But, cheeseburgers. And Ranch. Hashtag: EPIC FAIL. I think I made it an entire <a href="http://farmerswifelivinthecitylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-week-in-review.html" target="_blank">week</a>. Seven days. Then I quit. Why do I suck at this so much? </div>
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An entire calendar year has passed since those posts and I've thrown the towel in on eating unhealthy again. And I'm not even going to make any promises this time because....well....because you've seen how that works out. I feel like a broken record every time I tell the farmer "I'm on a diet". Bless his heart, he doesn't even react anymore if those words come out of my mouth because he knows it's most likely going to be a short lived jaunt down diet alley filled with hormonal imbalances, "hangry" tantrums and just plain starvation. Diet pills? I've taken them. Lemonade/juice cleanses? I've tried them. Being vegetarian? (excuse me again....hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha) I've tried it. Paleo? Yep. </div>
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So what now? How is this time different? This time I really think it's actually going to be different. #knockonwood</div>
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This time I've armed myself with knowledge. I have decided to take all the failures of my past attempts and learn from them. Every year around December - on the heels of a new year - I decide the week of my birthday I'm going to indulge and eat/drink whatever I want and after that day, I am starting fresh. In that respect, this year was no exception. December 14 came and went and on December 15 I began my "fresh start". I hate New Year's resolutions because - let's be honest - no one keeps them anyways! So I always resolved to a "new" me on December 15. </div>
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Last time I tried this I dropped everything at once. I went from Taco Bell drive thrus and Starbucks latte's and hot dogs, nachos, mac n cheese and highly processed everything in one day, to strictly veggies, lean protein and water the next day. I pretty much just set myself up for failure. So knowing what I know now, I've decided to take baby steps into this new food paradigm. </div>
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Baby Step 1. GLUTEN</div>
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I decided to go gluten-free on December 15 and I haven't looked back. I actually don't miss it, and I'm being completely honest! In addition to taking cues from my past failed attempts I've taken the time to read and learn about what impact the food we eat has on our bodies. Blogs have been the most helpful as well as some friends who are gluten free. And though it sounds complicated because gluten is in a lot of things - it really hasn't been that hard at all. I started with this helpful post on <a href="http://www.overstuffedlife.com/2013/11/five-tips-to-help-you-transition-to.html#_a5y_p=2447260" target="_blank">how to transition to being gluten free.</a> It suggests to, rather than buy things that are "gluten free", to just eliminate things with gluten all together. And honestly, I think that's the best approach. Because you can have corn tortillas with your tacos, you really don't <i>need</i> bread, and you can have rice instead of pasta. Being gluten free has also helped me to cut out most processed foods and most importantly, fast food. Because of this, for me, gluten was a good first choice.<br /></div>
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I have, on occasion, indulged in a little gluten. Fortunately for me, eliminating gluten is not a medical necessity, so there were 3, maybe 4 occasions in the past month that I have indulged in gluten - and boy did I pay for it! It's amazing to think that something that is in so many things could have such an impact on the way you feel. I realized how big of an impact gluten really had on how I felt only a week after giving it up. It was the week of Christmas and I figured I would splurge. I was at Starbucks and ordered a vanilla latte and a chocolate chip cookie. The cookie was delicious, but entirely not worth the horrible cramps, gas and bloated feeling I had for hours following it's consumption. I mean, seriously....it made me a believer in this whole gluten-free movement. The other two occasions were social functions where I didn't want to be a rude guest and reject the awesome food that had been provided by the hosts. I indulged a little each time and one time I really paid for it and the other time it didn't seem to effect me as much. </div>
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So what does being gluten free look like for me? I have carved out a space in my pantry just for my gluten free foods, which really aren't that bazaar. I have some gluten free granola (that I found on clearance!) Larabars, soft corn tortillas, Arborio rice, Chex (yes, some regular food is naturally gluten free!) and tortilla chips (see?). My guilty pleasure snacks are Snyder's Gluten Free Onion and Mustard pretzels and chips and salsa. I made<a href="http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/cooking-shortcuts-two-ingredient-nutella-brownies/" target="_blank"> these</a> 2 ingredient, gluten free, Nutella brownies and they hit the spot if I'm craving something sweet (which I rarely do, in all honesty). For starches I eat potatoes and black beans. Gluten freedom has helped me to cut down on processed foods (no more cheez its, frozen pizza, mac n cheese, jar sauce, etc) so it's been like giving up lots of things with only really giving up one.</div>
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Baby Step 2. MSG</div>
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In deciding to only give up one thing at a time, I've found freedom in indulging when I want to (ice cream, french fries and chocolate) and it doesn't make me feel like I'm suffocating beneath a pile of frozen diet meals and green tea pills. The more reading I do about the toxins found in processed food and drink, the less I want to eat/drink them - no matter how much I've loved them in the past. Literally the key to success is knowledge. When I read about how horrible and gross MSG is, I wanted to never eat it again. I've done research and found the names of ingredients that MSG<a href="http://www.mynaturalfamily.com/symptoms/food-allergy/msg/#_a5y_p=2849685" target="_blank"> hides </a>in and I've become a label-reading Nazi!<br /></div>
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Maybe this seems a bit extreme. But that's the beauty in these baby steps. Inevitably there's going to be a day when I'm not going to be able to read the label and I'll probably eat things with MSG in them many more times in this life. But if I choose to avoid it when its in my control, then I'm much better off than I was when I just ate whatever I wanted because it tasted good. Which is another funny thing, because things I thought tasted so good - just a few weeks ago - I now find to be repulsive. I splurged at lunch yesterday and had beer battered perch with french fries. It was so good, and totally worth the gassy, upset stomach I had at bed time last night. But I figured with my splurge I would have a Coke. I loved Coke ... it used to be something I drank without thinking twice. Now I consider it a treat. Well, yesterday I couldn't even drink a glass of it. I made it through half of my glass (with ice - so probably only like 6 oz of soda) before I just switched to water because it tasted like straight poison. No lie. So I pretty much just took myself to the next step without even trying!</div>
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Baby step 3, SODA/JUICE</div>
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Juice isn't that hard for me because I didn't drink a ton of it before, but now that I've cut out soda I have been drinking a bit more of it. But what's wrong with juice as long as it's 100% juice, you say? Well there's just so much sugar in it, even if it's naturally occurring sugar, it's still unnecessary. So that's it really. Water is really my beverage of choice these days and I don't mind at all. I still have coffee on occasion, but that's probably going to be my next baby step. But for a girl who's drank coffee regularly since the ripe age of 4 (yes, four), that's going to be a tough one. I've cut back considerably, but to give it up altogether will be pretty difficult for me. </div>
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Well, if you made it this far, thanks for reading the inner thoughts of my crazy. This has been an interesting journey to say the least, and I'm so excited about my progress and my ability to stay on track this time. If you're interested, I've actually dropped 9 lbs since December 15 - part of this lifestyle change has also had a weight loss goal. My clothes fit better, my gut feels better and I'm more motivated to keep going than ever before. I am by no means an expert on any of this. I've been meaning to get to the library to take out a few good reads on the subject. Wheat Belly and Grain Brain are a couple books that have been recommended to me by friends. I'm excited to learn more. </div>
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My next baby step is regular exercise and physical activity. I've purchased a couple yoga/Pilates and cardio work out videos, I just have to keep reminding the farmer to hook up the DVD player for me. That's on this week's "to do" list....to really help kick-start my weight loss. </div>
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Until next time (judging by my last post should be sometime in April),</div>
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The Farmer's Wife.</div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-42730940194754725672014-11-06T21:11:00.001-08:002014-11-06T21:13:07.351-08:00Grace and [Lots of] Starbucks<span style="color: red;"><b>Edit: This was written back in September, but I finally got around to publishing it on 11/6. Jack has now been in school for 3 months!<br /></b></span><br />
To say these past 4 weeks have been overwhelming would be a <i>severe</i> understatement. If I'm being honest I'm really not completely sure how I'm even still alive. I've had newborns and done the whole sleep-walk-through-the-day thing. I have, it's horrible. But <i>this.</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>This is something entirely different. This is like a new lifestyle.<br />
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Allow me to elaborate.<br />
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4 weeks ago, Jack started Kindergarten. I've had mixed emotions about this momentous occasion for the past year. A <b>year.</b> I've been fretting this day for a full calendar YEAR. For real, though.<br />
So we spent the two weeks leading up to Kindergarten picking out the coolest school supplies, shopping with Grandma's for backpacks and lunch boxes and shoes and everything in between. I took him out for lunch and to the zoo and to Chuck E Cheese and for ice cream (like every day). He got to stay up late and bake cookies with me. We savored every last second of summer.<br />
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Then it was labor day weekend. We had plans with the family to go to Bay Beach and continue savoring summer's last moments. We had a blast! Rides and games and swimming and pizza and more swimming and more rides. It was awesome. Until I discovered a little "bug bite" on Princess' leg. It seemed too reminiscent of the one I had found weeks earlier that led to a MRSA staph infection. By Monday (Labor Day) she had spiked a fever and the infected area continued to grow.<br />
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As you can imagine, Urgent Care is not the most ideal spot to spend your holiday weekend. We waited for close to 3 hours before we saw the doctor and it took us another hour to get things all squared away. They sent us home with an antibiotic under the assumption that the MRSA was back and scheduled an appointment for follow up in the morning. This is the moment that began my perpetual state of exhaustion. It hasn't ended since.<br />
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So at our follow up appointment on Tuesday (mind you Jack starts Kindergarten on Wednesday) where the baby was running another (higher) fever, they told me that the abscess in her leg would have to be drained surgically. "Surgically" is not a word any mother wants to hear - no matter what the circumstance. They tried to get her in right away that afternoon, but couldn't. They scheduled her first thing in the morning (aka 1st day of Kindergarten, that I've been freaking out about for A YEAR.) I kind of laughed and said - "so, it <i>has</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>to be tomorrow?" And the nurse looked at me like I had lost my freaking mind. And I started to explain the first day of school thing, and she kept looking at me like I was completely insane. So I just said, "ok, what time should we be there, and where do I go?"<br />
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8:45 am. Children's Hospital Main Campus. Clinics Building.<br />
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Fast forward to Wednesday.<br />
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We got up early, made breakfast and I insisted on driving separately than the farmer so that Princess and I can head straight to the hospital. But the farmer insisted we had plenty of time and we'd all go together. So I oblige. We have to travel down 2 roads to get to school. It's a total distance of about 7 miles. I'm not kidding you - it took us 45 minutes to get to school. We left so that we'd get there early and be able to walk him in and say good bye, maybe casually chat with other parents. NO. FORTY-FIVE Mother Loving minutes later, we had to rush in the door, quickly greet the principal, hang up his backpack and wave bye. All the other parents stood around the room as the teacher read a cute little book about the first day of school. And I had to wave and run. I mean literally run.<br />
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This day that I had fretted about and worried and agonized over for a year. 365 days spent worried, it was here and then gone. Today was the day and I didn't even have 30 seconds to think about it. My brain was already on to my next fear. A sick child. And MRSA is not exactly "no big deal", you know? I really didn't even let my brain go there. I didn't read anything online about it because I didn't want to gain more irrational fears than I already have. I mean, let's be honest I've got more than enough of those to go around.<br />
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So now that we were running late, I had to worry not only about the impending "surgery", but getting bumped because we were late. You know how hospitals are...I mean I don't blame them. They've got lives to save, they don't have time to wait for me. So I parked my car in the first spot I saw, took no notes as to where that spot was and just rushed myself, my feverish, infected baby and my 2 bags that had to weigh a combined 300 lbs. I mean I should have just packed a suit case for crying out loud.<br />
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I can spare you some details here....we sat in the clinic where they hoped to drain the abscess right in the office. After realizing she's not even quite a toddler and that it would be darn near impossible to make her sit still, they decided they'd have to administer anesthesia and do it in the OR. So over to day surgery in the big hospital we went, and there we sat. And waited. And she got sicker and sicker. She was burning up. (Ok sorry, I said I'd spare the details) Quick version - they took her back to surgery. The whole procedure was only like 30 minutes from start to finish and she came out of recovery another hour later or so. She was so sick and so sad looking. It broke my heart.<br />
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To think I worried about <i>this</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>day because my little guy was growing up. Who knew that I'd have something entirely different to struggle with. I did, however, have an overwhelming peace the whole time. I saw God's grace and mercy in a whole new way. I had a few sad, quiet moments to myself. I couldn't even pick Jack up from school. That broke my heart more than having to drop him off in a hurry. I wanted to talk to him about his day, and see him in the car line and hear about all the fun things he did at his first day of school. But I couldn't - and that was really the only thing that made me cry all day.<br />
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He called me from his grandma's cell phone when she picked him up. He was SO excited. He didn't even think twice about me not picking him up. He thought it was AWESOME that his Grandma got to pick him up. (Praise God!) But I had to rush him off the phone because I started to get choked up. I felt guilty that I couldn't be part of that moment for him. I wanted to make this day a big deal, and I couldn't. And I know that it didn't matter to him - he thought nothing of it. But for me it was really a sad moment. I mean, I just cried again from writing about it. It broke my heart all over again.<br />
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....getting on to the Grace and Starbucks part. The past 4 weeks have been non-stop. But I'm so humbled by God's gentle way of showing His grace. He's equipped me with a perspective that only God can give. As we left the hospital on Wednesday, I was exhausted. We got there just before 9 am and we were walking out at about 6pm. I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry myself to sleep. God had a little reminder for me. As I walked out - I saw a family taking a walk. A dad who looked about the same age as the farmer, a mom, who looked like she needed sleep much worse than I, and a precious toddler - not much older than my little Princess. The mom rolled the IV that was attached to the small boy's bald head as he pushed a little walker through the hall. This boy clearly suffered from some type of cancer and my heart was shattered. Suddenly I had a very clear perspective. This was just a short season. A day....maybe a couple weeks if you count our whole MRSA experience. But it is not cancer, it's not a life-threatening (well, not in our case) illness, it's not a terminal illness. Our time spent in the hospital was just one day. And now we can carry on with our regular lives. No more medicine, no more check ups,<br />
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I got to drive Jack to school the next day, and pick him up after school. I get to listen to his stories and buy him ice cream and make random Tuesday's seem like the most awesome day ever. And in a 5-year-old's world that's just as awesome as making the first day of school a big deal. So once again, I'm reminded that God's got me in the palm of His hand. His plans are so much grander than my brain can even begin to fathom. And for that I'm so grateful. I think one day I might remember this truth before I start to freak out....maybe. Just maybe.<br />
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Sweet dreams,<br />
The Farmer's WifeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-48607841061345572442014-11-06T20:58:00.000-08:002014-11-06T20:58:01.745-08:00Revived & Repurposed: Couponing for a CauseOver the summer I really began my conversion to self-proclaimed "crazy coupon lady". Extreme couponing became a sort of "way of life" for me. The thrill of a good deal, the rush of getting a whole cart full of personal care items for FREE. And even better, leaving the store with more value in gift cards than you actually paid in cash. Yes, sometimes they pay me to shop. It's in these past two weeks since I've taken a short hiatus that I really began to reflect on "couponing" and what it means to me and what some people interpret it as.<br /><br />In my opinion, couponers tend to get a bad rap. We're just cheap, or what's the point in just saving a buck, we're trying to cheat the system, we're thieves, it's wrong. I've heard it all. Trust me.<br /><br />If you know a couponer, or think you understand why couponers do what they do, I'm asking you to set that aside for a minute and hear me out. Let me tell you why I coupon. I'll be honest, some of us are just cheap, trying to save a buck. Some do "cheat" the system and commit coupon fraud, it happens. But the vast majority of us are in it for something much greater. We're not only in it for ourselves and our family's benefit, but to offer help to others.<br /><br />Truth: I don't coupon to save money. I am blessed with a hard working farmer-husband that provides more than enough for us and I can certainly afford to go out and buy the basic necessities, groceries, toiletries that my family needs to survive. We are abundantly blessed, beyond measure. Some couponers are just considered poor right off the bat because we're trying to save money. Let me assure you, I am not poor.<br /><br />Truth: we have struggled financially, I have gone to the grocery store without enough money in my wallet to buy the things I need. My credit card has been denied in the check out lane and I've had to put everything back. We've gone without. I wish I knew then what I know now about coupons, because it was then that I needed the "saving" part of couponing. During this time, I was at the home of one of the families at our church and my friend's mom (who knew we were going through a hard time) took me up to her stock pile room and let me pick out and take whatever we needed. Shampoo, conditioner, soap, shave gel. I remember leaving her house with a bag bursting at the seams with personal care products. I was practically in tears. To me and my family (just the farmer and I - at the time) this meant money that we didn't have to spend on these items could either go toward food or just straight to savings. To her it was nothing, I bet she doesn't even remember and I bet she didn't ever think twice about it. But to me it meant the world.<br /><br />And that is why I coupon. It started as a way to get stocked up on diapers for princess. But it has transformed into so much more than that. I want to give away all that kind of stuff to others that struggle or have fallen on hard times just the way Natalie helped us out when we were in a tough spot. And I have, and I know how much it helps. Even if my friends are not struggling and they're over and they are like "oh, I have to get going...gotta stop and pick up some deodorant before work tomorrow" I'll be all like "oh heck no you don't! what kind do you use and do you want regular or clinical strength?" Because if I can clear some space in my stock pile that means I have room for more! Which means more deals and more thrills!!<br /><br />So to all the nay sayers, next time you see me at Target with my cart full of more Pantene Pro-V and Crest Mouthwash than you'll ever use in your life time, don't roll your eyes. And if I have the lane blocked off with 4 separate transactions and a mountain of coupons to accompany each one, please save the under-your-breath comments and sighs of annoyance. I promise you what I'm doing is benefiting many other people than me. In fact, the farmer would probably agree that it really doesn't benefit me at all. Other than just really loving the art and science of couponing - and always having a plethora of shiny new personal care products to choose from - all I do is pay for this stuff and spend hours of my time planning the deals and doing the shopping to, in the end, give it all away. And I wouldn't change that for anything. If I can bring tears to someone's eyes because I just saved them $30 or $40 this month on personal care products than my work was not in vain. In fact, all my time and energy and money spent was quite worth it.<br />
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Give coupon ladies and gents the benefit of the doubt. Assume that if they have a cart full of product that either 1.) they have a home full of small or grown children, orphans or missionaries or 2.) they plan to donate most of or all of what they are buying. Don't roll your eyes, just pick another lane. And if you feel up to it, commend them for working hard to save money so they can help others. I've had a few guests and cashiers cheer me on in recent trips and there's nothing more exciting - than to see other shoppers get excited with you. It gives me a platform to talk about the new ministry I've started at church and to talk about the way God has abundantly blessed me and my family. Couponing has opened doors and has created new relationships for me. It's been a fun journey so far. I've taken a little break, but I'll be back in full force as soon as the farmer and I return from our little getaway this next week.<br />
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This was just an introduction to a couponing series I'd like to put together. I'll dig more into the methods to my madness and give more in depth couponing tips. I do not have a time line for this series, so just be patient. My new focus has shifted slightly from actual couponing and shopping myself to helping equip others to save money with coupons. So until my next post - happy couponing from the Farm.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />
The Farmer's WifeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-38517780517355903922014-06-07T23:35:00.001-07:002014-06-07T23:35:26.092-07:007 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Why do I get ideas like this ONLY at 1 am?<br />
Seriously, though.<br />
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But it's officially my 7th wedding anniversary with the farmer. We took the plunge on 6-8-07 and life has been anything but normal ever since. We've had ups and downs, like any other marriage. We added two precious humans to the world's population. We've moved like 4? 5 times, I think. I don't even know, but they were all in the first year of marriage. We've lived on the farm now for 6 years.<br />
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I'm pretty tired so I'm actually going to keep this short.<br />
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I made that picture up there because I thought it would be fun to see how marriage has or hasn't changed us. I came to these conclusions:<br />
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-I love that man.<br />
-I have shiny skin - not as in like radiant, but as in like oily<br />
-2009 was a rough year - man that was an awkward family photo<br />
-The first couple years after child birth my fashion kinda deteriorated, luckily I have seemed to figure it out<br />
-I'm better blonde<br />
-Girls change, boys really don't .... and that's pretty irritating<br />
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So really nothing about those pictures says anything about our marriage.<br />
But I know this. I've failed him over and over again, and I will probably continue to do so. I suck at a lot of stuff, but at the end of the day he still loves me (or claims to, at least). He takes care of us and works harder than anyone I've ever known and for all of his sacrifice I'm so thankful. I had no idea when I said "I do" 7 years ago that all sorts of crazy wonderful would become my reality. I just thought we'd get cushy 9-5 jobs and come home and eat dinner and play catch with our dogs. [multiple] Business owners? Farmers? A laundromat? Who, me? Hahahaha, I would have laughed you right out of town.<br />
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But I wouldn't trade it for the world.<br />
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So here's to the next 7 years and on. I love you Donald Richard Spielman, Jr. With all my heart to infinity and beyond.<br />
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-Your Wife<br />
<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-30640999417676132392014-06-06T12:15:00.000-07:002014-06-06T12:15:20.508-07:00Motherhood is No JokeThis day has just gotten the best of me. There are so many things I am neglecting right now, but I just needed a mental break before I just completely lose it.<br />
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It started at 3 am and hasn't stopped since. My youngest, my dear princess has successfully drained every last ounce of sanity I have. It's gone.<br />
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I didn't help matters by going to bed WAY too late...but quite honestly I think God kept me awake because had I already been soundly sleeping at 3 am, I would have handled last night WAY differently. When I am asleep I am a force to be reckoned with. The baby woke up (at 3) SCREAMING. I mean, just screaming. So I went and consoled her, rocked her quietly until I thought she was sleeping again.<br />
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Wrong.<br />
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As soon as I laid her down, she promptly began screaming. And so we did this again another 2 or 3 times until I realized she wasn't going to lay down. I tried laying her down and just letting her cry, but it just got worse, and Jack was asleep just a few feet away and I really didn't need two children awake and such a ridiculous hour.<br />
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So I did what I really don't like to, I took her in bed with me. I don't do this for a few reasons. 1. I really enjoy my space. I mean, I love my children, but not in my space 24/7. 2. I fear her rolling off the bed, because it would be a cold day in hell before the farmer let her sleep between us, so she laid on the end of the bed. 3. Once she gets used to a thing like that, I fear it may never end. Literally. So for the sake of all things true, I just don't do it.<br />
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But it was 3 am and I hadn't been to sleep yet...so I just gave in. But then I started to drift off into a deep sleep and she started snoring. I figured she was totally asleep again and went to lay her in her bed.<br />
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Wrong.<br />
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I mean for real. It was like a comedy of errors. At this point my bedroom light was on and the farmer was desperately searching for his ear plugs. I continued to gently rock her and try to get her to sleep and nothing was working. So I made a bottle, gave her a pacifier and went to bed. I think I finally fell asleep around 5.<br />
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Flash forward 3 hours. More screaming. Now she's soaked from head to toe. Awesome.<br />
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Changed diaper, gave her a bottle, thought about crawling back into bed, but I just decided to give up on sleep for good.<br />
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Then the crying continued. And the messes began. As I ran around in circles trying helplessly to clean and organize and tidy it just kept getting undone. I fed her. I changed her. I gave her toys. I gave her snacks. Her brother played with her. I held her. I changed her again. I gave her more snacks. I gave her a bottle. NOTHING WORKED. The screaming just kept on. So I just started ignoring it. Tried cleaning and going about my day. More crying. More screaming.<br />
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I mean picture this: A crying baby in the middle of your kitchen while you're trying to sweep. Every time you move her and keep sweeping, she walks over and sits down in the MIDDLE of your pile. The middle. Every. Single. Time. A seemingly mindless, 4 minute task like sweeping suddenly becomes a 15 minute ordeal. AND YOUR FLOOR IS STILL A DISASTER WHEN YOU'RE DONE. So I finally gave up and let her eat the left over piece of grilled cheese that she was after. Yep, it was coated in dust and nasty stuff. But clearly she didn't mind, so why should I? At least she was quiet for like 23 seconds.<br />
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I know mom's get this. I know a lot of people get this. I just am so done with it today. Because it's just one thing after another over. And over. And over. And over. It never stops. And when I thought I had completely lost all my marbles, I was putting the cottage cheese away from lunch and I missed the shelf (I'm still really not sure how that happened) and it exploded all over the floor and my pretty new fridge. EXPLODED. Everywhere.<br />
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Now I was crying. Yep, I cried.<br />
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But I took a deep breath, thought "Ok, get it together" and called Reggie in the house. I always liked that dog. He licked it up in nothing flat, I wiped the residue up and you would have never known it spilled.<br />
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So I got a handle on one of my problems today.<br />
Baby steps.<br />
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I must go try to tackle something now. I will end this venting session...try to regain a little bit of order in this house before I head to the laundromat with my two precious children in tow and attempt to clean that. Am I completely nuts? Don't answer that.<br />
<br />
-The Farmer's Insane WifeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-66845644349870825382014-06-04T10:37:00.000-07:002014-06-06T11:39:40.629-07:00Shop Local + Summer Corn Salad & Basil Buttermilk Dressing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You can go directly to the corn salad recipe - just click <a href="http://farmerswifelivinthecitylife.blogspot.com/2014/06/summer-corn-salad-with-basil-buttermilk.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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June started another month of budgeting here on the farm. We have very strict limits around here for food, date nights, pet expenses, etc. And I do my best to stick to them. </div>
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We won't talk about May. </div>
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And since May didn't go according to plan, we have been living the past week and a half on bare shelves. I mean, let's be realistic. We still ate until we were full, never went hungry and still had plenty to go around...but we weren't eating our usual three course meals with veggies, starches and protein. Frozen pizza, buttered noodles and turkey sandwiches dominated our menus. Again, I'm not complaining, we are blessed and well fed, all the time. But I digress, with a new month upon us there was a fresh start and lots of shopping on the horizon!</div>
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I made my grocery list last night after having decided on a few meals for the upcoming weeks. The usual, tacos, chicken, burgers, shrimp pasta. Based on my list of meals and necessary ingredients, I made my shopping list. It was long. I mean really long. We needed a lot of stuff. Like almost 2 whole pages long. Hashtag throw the budget out the window. JK, that's totally not allowed.</div>
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But the good news is the farmer has been slowly moving toward this new food paradigm. He's beginning to realize that all the processed foods we buy and eat on a regular basis are just garbage. He's genuinely appreciating the value in whole foods, fresh produce, naturally and organically fed animals and things made from scratch without artificial flavors and fillers. It's good, because I've been conscious of these things but without the farmer on board before it was just too hard to commit too. Don't get me wrong, we still eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Kraft Mac N Cheese. But those things are becoming fewer and father between the fresh vegetables, organic meats and free-range, cage-free eggs. </div>
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While shopping today I did something that I've never really done before. I turned over every product I bought and checked where it was from. I'm now fascinated with how a products origin can affect it's price, quality and even it's placement in a store. I started my day getting gas at Kwik Trip - a Wisconsin based, family owned convenience store/gas station. Let me just start by saying Kwik Trip is awesome. Everyone who has one within 5-10 miles of their house should go there. For real. They have awesome customer service, their gas prices are competitive and their convenience store offers great, GREAT local products and affordable prices. For instance:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwrMV-C0FQddPBPuyMkFuxDlIkVGUOEHnA0azHw3R2kaT0F2CGLoslGklOzKqLARKApxD9g4rV-x4s4ZgKH2hm3W0cmbd8_c8U6JHqiJt3Wmx8KZ_Wfa6YWkS225qKNc-jAFj7IRQ2UU1/s1600/10448245_10101931247825938_921973239392141407_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwrMV-C0FQddPBPuyMkFuxDlIkVGUOEHnA0azHw3R2kaT0F2CGLoslGklOzKqLARKApxD9g4rV-x4s4ZgKH2hm3W0cmbd8_c8U6JHqiJt3Wmx8KZ_Wfa6YWkS225qKNc-jAFj7IRQ2UU1/s1600/10448245_10101931247825938_921973239392141407_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Westby Creamery. </div>
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My dad grew up in a small town near Westby called Newry. As a kid I went there often to visit family and knew all about the delicious products that come from this family owned, Wisconsin farm. Their cottage cheese is the best. We would stop on the way home from Grandma's house and buy fresh cheese curds...you just can't beat fresh Wisconsin cheese curds. Especially if they're from Westby Creamery. And you can get the fine Westby products at your local Kwik Trip. *End shameless plug*</div>
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After talking with a clerk once about how cheap Kwik Trip's milk prices are I learned that they also own their own dairy. Their milk is local, fresh and affordable. Same with all their bakery. Their white bread is on sale now 2/$1 - local and cheap. You just can't top that in my book. I also got a bag of russet potatoes, which the cashier told me are also locally grown, onions and chicken breast. I think the chicken breast were from Illinois - which as a Packer fan that's hard to digest, but it's still pretty local. </div>
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I ended up spending about $40 at Kwik Trip, just in groceries. With my gas my bill topped out at $93. But I got 4 loaves of bread, a pack of hamburger buns, hot dog buns and sub rolls. 2lbs of onions, 5lbs of potatoes, a bunch of bananas, 3 pkg of chicken breast, 1 pkg of all natural all beef hot dogs, 2 containers of Westby sour cream, a container of Westby cottage cheese, 2 lbs butter. </div>
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There was probably more but I can't remember.</div>
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It pains me to admit that I finished my grocery shopping at Walmart. I've been trying to be so locally minded but I'm also on a budget, so I have to be realistic. Grocery stores just can't compete - and besides Walmart price matches so any price I find at a grocery store that beats Walmart I can get them to match. But I made a few shocking discoveries...I mean not really SHOCKING, but interesting nevertheless. </div>
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On my little shop local binge, I decided to check the origin of the products I was buying. Some things on the farm just are...like Hellmann's Mayo- doesn't matter where it comes from, it's the only kind we buy. Coke, don't care, that's all the farmer will drink. But other things that don't really matter, I have decided to buy as locally as possible. The one thing that shocked me the most was when I was buying cheese. The Great Value shredded cheese (packaged at Walmart in AZ - CHEESE FROM ARIZONA!? um, no thank you) - 8 cup size bag - sells for $8.98, but the Crystal Farms (packaged in Lake Mills, WI) - 8 cup bag - sells for $8.78. I mean I have bought the Great Value before because it's Great Value and I'm on a budget and naturally you just think that it's the better deal. WRONG. Today I learned that the local cheese is actually the better deal. Also, the Crystal Farms butter was priced exactly the same as the Great Value. If the shelves were not completely cleared out of all CF butter, I would have bought some...luckily I had gotten butter at Kwik Trip, so I knew mine was local and I didn't have to worry about it. </div>
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So anyways...all that to say that I think it's important to know where your food comes from. If nothing else it's super interesting. I bought Planters peanut butter because it was made in IL. I needed Yellow Mustard and we DON'T EVER buy Heinz...mostly for political reasons, actually entirely for political reasons...and for some strange reason I feel like French's might also be in cahoots with Heinz, probably not, but it's just this weird feeling I have. So I was about to grab the Great Value - when I just started grabbing different kinds and checking their origin. Turns out Koops is made right here in WI, in Pleasant Prairie. And it was the least expensive one! Double win. Breakfast sausage? Johnsonville, duh. From Sheboygan Falls, WI.</div>
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I have this little sense of Wisconsin pride inside today - it feels good to be a cheese head. Now when I enjoy my hot dog I can know that from the bun to the mustard it's all helping support local farms and businesses here in Wisconsin. It'll taste even better!<br />
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And that brings me to our dinner tonight:</div>
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Grilled marinated chicken (italian dressing marinade), sauteed russet potatoes<br />
& corn salad with basil buttermilk</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseIjIJNOvr6Hm1k_6JfJqK8fxD6-oReCnhJt9aEruqjk4XJeVCMJDfTHN2fvzT0Y2YmHbZj-D3P0mLSCE6r9d2h8bXg3g-DyOIuPM7H25vyUF7GEwcOp4CfblAKc2Th1Y8KwCn5ifgH-C/s1600/10004054_10101931243250108_6042093983175782322_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseIjIJNOvr6Hm1k_6JfJqK8fxD6-oReCnhJt9aEruqjk4XJeVCMJDfTHN2fvzT0Y2YmHbZj-D3P0mLSCE6r9d2h8bXg3g-DyOIuPM7H25vyUF7GEwcOp4CfblAKc2Th1Y8KwCn5ifgH-C/s1600/10004054_10101931243250108_6042093983175782322_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't really take credit for this recipe - or any of my recipes for that matter. I mean I work in a restaurant...where do you think I get all my recipes? All the talented chef's I work for, of course.</div>
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This we featured as a special last summer with fresh basil and heirloom tomatoes right out of the farm at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pside23" target="_blank">Parkside 23</a></div>
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And I really needed a side for my grilled chicken. I considered making a hash with the potatoes. Sauteed red onion, green pepper, basil, black beans and russet potatoes...but I wasn't convinced. And I had this basil from my herb garden that I wanted to do something fabulous with. It smelled SO good.</div>
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When *EUREKA* I remembered this salad from work, and I had all the ingredients.</div>
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Except I could not for the life of me remember the dressing...I tried messaging the chef, but didn't get a response so I was on my own. I vaguely remember it having something to do with buttermilk so I just went to Pinterest and started looking stuff up. </div>
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Side note: What would we do without Pinterest? I mean is there any other way to look up recipes? Seriously.</div>
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Searched: Basil Buttermilk Dressing.</div>
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Bingo, that's what it was!</div>
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But buttermilk. Who just has buttermilk? Not this girl.</div>
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Searched: Buttermilk Substitute</div>
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I have done milk with vinegar before, but for some reason that didn't seem right for this dressing. I mean maybe it would have worked, but I found a better alternative: milk mixed with sour cream. </div>
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AND I HAVE AWESOMELY LOCAL WESTBY SOUR CREAM. *end shouting*</div>
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So that's what I did:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr4HJZiqWvsyDpGAqKpmkVqfzmcdRZwo1S6aceRUSNqYFgsfTyXt4p4Y9HORy4rNkGw89sb6YHfiNDOK3u8LJxD3xekwyqneD6BoSctiYDigUY4AjYu_fILR2ZYDQOqomWB6H1xqA8H3Y/s1600/10372344_10101931247606378_3582526270820159025_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr4HJZiqWvsyDpGAqKpmkVqfzmcdRZwo1S6aceRUSNqYFgsfTyXt4p4Y9HORy4rNkGw89sb6YHfiNDOK3u8LJxD3xekwyqneD6BoSctiYDigUY4AjYu_fILR2ZYDQOqomWB6H1xqA8H3Y/s1600/10372344_10101931247606378_3582526270820159025_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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1 cup Milk</div>
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1-2 Tablespoons sour cream</div>
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Whisk.</div>
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BOOM. Instant Buttermilk.</div>
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So now on to the recipe....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQGCc6Bo_fBcUSmnMt6qy1IATP82wDoNaKxKpYokPUlOqrYd8C60BgK6TFSYoOCO1VVT6ujiSBPDB7C3V3S9c3SW5Ppl5VLiJsl-ZoWrGvoh-ROBebxpG2optzybUMwDBiys_af5I0ODP/s1600/blogpic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQGCc6Bo_fBcUSmnMt6qy1IATP82wDoNaKxKpYokPUlOqrYd8C60BgK6TFSYoOCO1VVT6ujiSBPDB7C3V3S9c3SW5Ppl5VLiJsl-ZoWrGvoh-ROBebxpG2optzybUMwDBiys_af5I0ODP/s1600/blogpic.png" height="438" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 Roma Tomato</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 Medium Red Onion</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 Can Sweet Corn (drained)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chopped Fresh Basil (10-15 leaves)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*I used Sweet Basil and Greek Basil from my herb garden*</div>
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Buttermilk Dressing:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 cup buttermilk (or buttermilk substitute - see above)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/3 cup mayonnaise </div>
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1 clove minced garlic</div>
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1/4 heaping tsp of salt</div>
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Mince your onion, dice the tomato, finely chop the basil.</div>
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Fresh sweet corn would be ideal, cook it and cut it right off the cob </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But since it's not in season yet and I always have corn in the can in my pantry, I drained the corn in a colander and poured it on to some paper towel to get all the moisture out.</div>
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Combine your ingredients in a bowl</div>
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Now I know the dressing is technically called basil buttermilk dressing, but I just added the basil into the salad and made the dressing "plain". I think I had a little too much dressing on my salad, and I used about 3/4 of it, so you could easily cut the recipe in half for the dressing and I think it would be plenty.</div>
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Take your minced garlic and salt and mash it together to make a paste with a heavy knife on your cutting board. Add the paste to the buttermilk and whisk in the mayo. After whisking together I put in sealed container and gave it a good shake too. That's it. You're done.</div>
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Just pour your dressing over your salad and serve. You can serve immediately or chill before serving. This is such a fresh, yummy summer salad.I sincerely hope you try this recipe, because you will love it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPe1MDRZpw7Q3QuXVcVnmvSp_8iSmoS7REKbBNSRHWK0UncmuZI7LTCjX0cq4Vs9Qm8KFZJhcg8QXGeoiiIO4rYDQttupXB4iUz2xMjokHIwkF6aktk8nBqVnNi2JgB_NJj3Fuzs_d4CE/s1600/10410538_10101931246144308_5551190457877869390_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPe1MDRZpw7Q3QuXVcVnmvSp_8iSmoS7REKbBNSRHWK0UncmuZI7LTCjX0cq4Vs9Qm8KFZJhcg8QXGeoiiIO4rYDQttupXB4iUz2xMjokHIwkF6aktk8nBqVnNi2JgB_NJj3Fuzs_d4CE/s1600/10410538_10101931246144308_5551190457877869390_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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In conclusion, shop local, when you can. Check out where the stuff you buy is from. It's interesting. Start an herb garden. I haven't had it super long, but already am reaping the benefits of having fresh herbs on hand at all times. I'm looking forward to having fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and other produce when our garden starts to produce! That I can't take credit for though, that's all the farmer. And that's all. Enjoy the sunshine!</div>
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Happy Summer from the Farm,</div>
<div>
The Farmer's Wife</div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-37539839787235093652014-06-04T10:12:00.003-07:002014-06-04T10:26:34.848-07:00Summer Corn Salad with Basil Buttermilk<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQGCc6Bo_fBcUSmnMt6qy1IATP82wDoNaKxKpYokPUlOqrYd8C60BgK6TFSYoOCO1VVT6ujiSBPDB7C3V3S9c3SW5Ppl5VLiJsl-ZoWrGvoh-ROBebxpG2optzybUMwDBiys_af5I0ODP/s1600/blogpic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQGCc6Bo_fBcUSmnMt6qy1IATP82wDoNaKxKpYokPUlOqrYd8C60BgK6TFSYoOCO1VVT6ujiSBPDB7C3V3S9c3SW5Ppl5VLiJsl-ZoWrGvoh-ROBebxpG2optzybUMwDBiys_af5I0ODP/s1600/blogpic.png" height="438" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Ingredients:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 Roma Tomato</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 Medium Red Onion</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 Can Sweet Corn (drained)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chopped Fresh Basil (10-15 leaves)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
*I used Sweet Basil and Greek Basil from my herb garden*</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Buttermilk Dressing:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 cup buttermilk (or buttermilk substitute - <a href="http://www.swankyrecipes.com/how-to-make-buttermilk-and-buttermilk-substitute.html" target="_blank">check these</a>)<br />
(I used the milk/sour cream substitute)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/3 cup mayonnaise </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 clove minced garlic</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/4 heaping tsp of salt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mince your onion, dice the tomato, finely chop the basil.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fresh sweet corn would be ideal, cook it and cut it right off the cob </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But since it's not in season yet and I always have corn in the can in my pantry, I drained the corn in a colander and poured it on to some paper towel to get all the moisture out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Combine your ingredients in a bowl</div>
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Now I know the dressing is technically called basil buttermilk dressing, but I just added the basil into the salad and made the dressing "plain". I think I had a little too much dressing on my salad, and I used about 3/4 of it, so you could easily cut the recipe in half for the dressing and I think it would be plenty.</div>
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Take your minced garlic and salt and mash it together to make a paste with a heavy knife on your cutting board. Add the paste to the buttermilk and whisk in the mayo. After whisking together I put in sealed container and gave it a good shake too. That's it. You're done.</div>
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Just pour your dressing over your salad and serve. You can serve immediately or chill before serving. This is such a fresh, yummy summer salad.I sincerely hope you try this recipe, because you will love it!</div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-74724099366103765902014-05-16T12:37:00.000-07:002014-05-16T12:37:33.425-07:00My Microwave is Really CleanSo I stopped for a moment to admire the sparkly-cleanness of my microwave. It's so shiny. I know, I know, <i>it's brand new.</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>But the fact that for the whole 2 months I've owned it I've wiped it out and sprayed it down. Every. Single. Time. Seriously, every time I've used it, I've wiped it down. And the two times that the farmer has used it and failed to wipe it out, I was sure to let him know.<br />
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All day I've been picking up, and wiping down things in my fancy new kitchen, the dishes are away, the sink is empty, and I'm about to mop my exotic hardwood floors when I hear my dear son from the other room. Rather than just come and get my attention by saying "hey mom, there's a problem with Princess" he prefers to yell things like "ELLE EMERGENCY, ELLE EMERGENCY!" or "ALERT! ALERT!". At this moment he chose the latter and my little warped sense of reality is destroyed and I run into the other room to find the baby dumping out an entire box of Corn Pops all over herself and the floor....wait, how'd that box of cereal get in my bedroom? Oh...when I let Jack eat right from the box this morning because I was too lazy to get up and pour them in a bowl...that's right. Fantastic...but hey it could be worse, right? At least Corn Pops are not microscopic like Fruity Pebbles and they don't require the vacuum cleaner. So I go to grab the baby and put her in the crib while I clean up and I feel something soft and squishy under my BARE feet.<br />
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Oh, perfect. Dog poop. ON MY CARPET!? ....and now on my bare feet.<br />
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Awesome. Wishing I could go back to my warped sense of reality where I admired my hard work and clean microwave. But alas, there are Corn Pops and dog feces to clean up. And now that I have far more important things to do than blog, like get the baby who is now eating a sandwich from the garbage can...or the 2 new projects I've inherited for CrossPoint Church or the laundromat that needs to be cleaned sometime today...groceries and last minute details for Princess' birthday tomorrow. Oh jeez. And I chose to blog.<br />
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Sometimes my reality is warped and so are my priorities. Pray for me, would you?<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
The Farmer's WifeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4313691436026261398.post-8461068760331778562014-05-11T22:12:00.001-07:002014-05-12T09:06:16.368-07:00#BestMothersDayEver #LifeToldThroughProfilePicturesHappy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there. I also have to say that I love all the Meme's and eCard-esque photo Facebook things that commemorate moms who have gone before us, moms that have lost children, moms that long to be...all moms whatever your circumstance. You are loved and appreciated. You are <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ4Rnba85o8" target="_blank">awesome</a>.<br />
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So today is mother's day. I didn't do much...but it was one of the best mother's days ever. Last mother's day I was enormously pregnant and miserable...so there's that. This year I have two beautiful reason's to celebrate being a mom. They are both entirely unique and perfect in their own ways. The farmer so kindly let me pick out and buy my own gift -which was honestly a gift in and of itself! He has been so busy that he confessed last night that he just didn't have time to buy one or even think of anything to get me. I stepped up and said I'd take Jack to Target and let him pick something out for me. Then I strongly suggested a Starbucks gift card. So I got an awesome gift...kudos to the farmer for just admitting he had nothing and letting me pick out my own. Hashtag ItsTheThoughtThatCounts. I mean for real. I'd way rather have a starbucks giftcard than some afterthought of a halfhearted gift because he just forgot and ran out of time. So well played, Farmer. Man points for you!<br />
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We went to church, which I sincerely look forward to each week...CrossPoint Church is where it's at! I am excited to go to sleep on Saturday nights because I love Sunday mornings. They are the best. So I got to spend the morning serving the Lord and seeing my church family. And after church we went to my mom's to have lunch, play and relax. The kids played outside, we spent time with Grandma and when the farmer was done with work surprisingly early I got to leave for an hour or two to spend some time with him (kiddo's were asleep at grandmas!) then we had a delicious dinner ala chef Grandpa. Beef tenderloin, grilled shrimp, cauliflower and potatoes. Yum! And my sis brought this amazing Simma's Cheesecake for dessert. Then we came home, promptly put princess to bed, built a bonfire on the driveway - spent a few last minutes with Jack, sent him to bed and I got to spend the rest of the night with the farmer. So, in short, my mother's day was fantastic. I enjoyed the company of my favorite people, ate great food, drank wine and now I'm on track to be in bed before midnight. Life doesn't get much better than that.<br />
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But as I scrolled through my Facebook newsfeed tonight I decided to go through my own pictures and look for one of me and both my kids. The only one I could find was right after Elle was born and I was still very bloated from pregnancy...ew. But I made a crazy conclusion that you can really tell the story of your life through your profile pictures (depending on how long you've had Facebook, that is) I've had a Facebook account since I was a freshman in college- 2004. That's 10 whole years that I've been on Facebook. Holy cow. But really, when you scroll through your profile pictures you can see how your life and your priorities have changed. Case in point:<br />
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My like 5th ever profile picture. Our dogs. That was what we lived for. Our sweet Lola girl. Look how well dressed we are. I mean, look how clean the Farmer looks. And Reggie. He looks clean too. Oh sweet Lola. We miss her so.</div>
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But really, February 2007 this was what our world revolved around.</div>
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Flash forward to December 2007. </div>
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Our first Christmas as a married couple. I remember feeling fat in this picture. And now I look back and think Dang! I looked good! How could I have possibly felt fat in that picture!? And why does the Farmer look like an Army recruit? He for sure still wears that shirt. But seriously, I DO NOT look fat. I mean, NOW I'm fat...NO WAY was I fat then!<br />
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Ok, flash forward another few months to April 2008:<br />
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We bought and sold our first home together. This was my PROFILE PICTURE. Clearly I was obsessed with my home. It was awesome, though. This house is, and probably will forever be, one of our absolute favorites. It was amazing. The farmer rehabbed it amazingly and it had the most awesome view of Waukesha county. It was truly one of a kind! Cleary, though...this was my priority.</div>
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And in August of 2009 it all changed:</div>
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I became a mom. But even before that, it changed...check out March of 2009:</div>
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Before he was born he was a profile picture. And now my profile pictures are dominated by my children. And that's a beautiful thing. Before I had children, my profile was dominated by my houses and my dogs. But now life has become so much more than that.</div>
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I don't know why this seems so profound to me right now. But children change you - obviously. But really, they make you stronger and weaker all at the same time. You bear burdens you never thought possible but your heart breaks in a whole new way. You struggle for a whole new reason. Your existence becomes about something new entirely. You don't live for yourself anymore. In fact, you don't even quite matter anymore. If they are happy, content, breathing...then your job is done. And you are satisfied. </div>
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All this to say...mom's we have one of the hardest, most demanding jobs on the planet. And I know not a single one of you would trade it for anything. You want nothing but absolutely everything for your child. And that's what makes you (us) awesome. Love. So Happy Mother's Day. To moms everywhere.To those who have lost a mom, to mom's who have lost a child. To those who long to be a mom and for those who are mom's every day. The one's in the trenches. Wiping tears and butts and picking up the messes. Happy Mother's Day to you. You're awesome.</div>
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Love,</div>
The Farmer's Wife<br />
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(and if not for the Farmer I wouldn't be a mom!)</div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12874826503328804269noreply@blogger.com0