30 before 30 update

Since my birthday is a little over a month and a half away, (it will be my "golden birthday" -- I'll turn 30 on the 30th!), I thought it about time to review the "30 before 30" list I made shortly after my 29th birthday.

1. Sleep in a tent.
Check!
2. Put 200 miles on my bike.
Probably not going to happen. Why? Flat tires and no pump.
3. Leave the country at least once.
Also probably not going to happen. (Finances.)
4. Renew my teaching license (which has expired . . . oops!)
I hope! I'm waiting for certificates for inservice hours from my boss.
5. Make tamales from scratch.
Ah! Forgot about this one.
6. Learn how to play three chords on a guitar.
Hmm. I tried this one -- not so successful.
7. Go camping with Dan, my dad, and my uncle Stu.
I did camp with Dan, but my dad and uncle will have to wait.
8. Contact friends that I haven't heard from in a while.
Done!
9. Take a yoga class.
Maybe I should make this part of the Yoga Challenge?
10. Read 10 books.
Done, times two! (At least!)
11. Try 100 new recipes.
Done, times two, probably!
12. Walk around Lake of the Isles 25 times.
I lost count, but I bet I've accomplished this.
13. Learn how to steer a canoe.
Eh . . . not so much.
14. Find a consistent (monthly at least) volunteer opportunity.
Did I forget about church choir?
15. Go through my things, (clothes, kitchen stuff, books, etc.) and make a big donation of stuff I'm not using to the Goodwill.
Done, at least twice.
16. Frame the "lucky" $2 bill my great-grandmother gave me.
Probably not going to happen -- finances. Eh.
17. Go visit my brother and his wife in Idaho.
Again, finances.
18. Expand my charitable giving to include the Minnesota DNR, Theatre in the Round, and my church.
Well, I've started donating to my church . . . !
19. Replace at least 2 pieces of my cookware.
Damn finances!
20. Make yoga a habit (at least 4 times per week.)
So far so good.
21. Learn how to knit.
I don't think I'm motivated to work on this one right now.
22. Save at least $1000.
FINANCES!!
23. Open an IRA and start contributing to it monthly.
GRRRRRRR. I'll keep working on the debt, though!
24. Bake bread and make it a habit.
Done!
25. Make flossing a habit.
I forgot about this one as well . . . perhaps I'll add a "flossing report" to the FLOG?
26. Go vegan (at home) for one month.
Not going to happen right now.
27. Buy a bike that is the proper size for me.
Bikes cost money, don't they?
28. Buy a new bike helmet.
I need to go to Freewheel . . .
29. Learn how to drive stick shift.
Must make plans with Ann!
30. Take a beginning photography class.
Hm. Probably not, since I'm going to start working the second job again.

A pathetic showing? Maybe I'll accomplish half the things on my list before my birthday? Is 15 before 30 really that bad, in the end?

Yoga Challenge (day 9) and photo-free FLOG

I had really planned on doing "Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss" after work tonight, but when I got home, I was feeling really . . . tired. And hungry. I didn't think that a 45-minute practice would be good for my "body-mind" at that time, so I chose an equally intense, but shorter something -- Yoga Journal's 20-minute "Step-by-Step Session 1" again. After watching and moving along with the instructional portion on Saturday, the 20 minutes of sun-salutes were definitely easier to follow . . . although still physically challenging for me! But I feel GREAT!

This series of DVDs may be one of my gifts to myself if I manage to complete this challenge!

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I had a late start and a busy morning today, so although I had time to pack a lunch, I took no photos -- sorry! The FLOG, regardless:

Breakfast:
Black coffee, bowl of Life cereal with soymilk, banana.

Lunch:
Leftover mashed potatoes, broccoli, and curried tofu, and a frosted sugar cookie.

Snack:
Muffin and Minneola.

Dinner:
Leftover comfort soup, coleslaw. I'll take my vitamin here in a minute, too.

Treat:
I plan on baking my second round of mini-muffins for church choir practice tonight, so I'll probably sample one (or two!) of those when they come out of the oven. You know, to check to make sure they are edible and everything. ;-)

Until tomorrow. :)

Yoga Challenge (day 8), baking maniac, and FLOG

I ended my long, busy day with 25 minutes of Gaiam's "PM Yoga." In retrospect, I should have done yoga earlier in the evening so I could have had a little more energy for it. Regardless, children's pose and relaxation pose were nice ways to end my day!

I took some of the advice a couple of you gave me and tried bending my knees during downward dog . . . I still have twice as many bends as I need, but it's getting better. I just have to keep reminding myself to stick my tushie up in the air as high as I can!

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I spent almost my entire day in the kitchen today, and much of that time was spent baking. Call me crazy, but I was a baking maniac today!

Raspberry, Lemon, and Ricotta Muffins:

For snacks/breakfasts for Dan and I this week.

Granola:

Loaded with cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, almonds, walnuts, dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried apricots, and golden raisins!

Pumpkin-Pecan Mini-Muffins:

It's my turn to bring treats to church choir practice this Wednesday, so I'm going to make a variety of mini-muffins. This is the first of three different batches to come before Wednesday night!

Sugar Cookies with Almond Buttercream:

I swear Dan's been asking for more frosted cookies . . . and most of them will go home with him!

In addition to all of the baking, I also made a big lunch, hummus, coleslaw, almond milk, and a new batch of powdered vegetable broth base. Whew!

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I did take some time away from the kitchen today to actually eat a few things!

Breakfast:

Cold pizza. I didn't finish both slices -- it was just okay.

Post-Church Snack:

Mmmmmmm dates.

Lunch:

Curried Tofu (from VCON,) steamed broccoli, and mashed potatoes with gravy.

Treat:

Half a muffin.

Mid-Afternoon Snack:
Another muffin. (A whole one this time.)

Dinner:

Leftover chili and cornbread.

Treat:

I didn't make quite enough frosting for the cookies this time 'round, so I made a sandwich cookie out of the last two unfrosted cookies, and the last dab of yellow frosting. It was great!

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Man, I am beat. I can't believe tomorrow is Monday already! Rats. Weekends pass far too quickly, if you ask me.

Yoga Challenge (day 7,) big shop, and FLOG

I went for a walk with my friend Courtney this afternoon, and decided yoga would be a good way to stretch out my muscles following our light, social work-out. I chose the 35-minute instructional portion of Yoga Journal's "Step by Step Session 1" video that I got from Netflix earlier this week. Although this portion was not a flowing routine, I still think I got a lot out of it -- the tutorial moved more slowly, so I was able to focus more on my breathing, as well as attempting to do the poses correctly.

I'm really struggling with downward dog. I have an extra "bend," (my body is more of a U-shape, as opposed to a V-shape,) and can't seem to find a way to get my feet flat on the floor. I have long legs, stubby little arms, and inflexible leg muscles -- downward dog is quite the challenge! Any ideas/suggestions from you yoga queens out there?

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Almost first thing this morning, I decided to borrow Dan's car for a majorly big shop at the co-op. I felt like I needed one of everything! Geez! Here's the motherload:



BULK:
local sliced almonds
organic raw almonds
organic pecans
organic walnuts
tahini
local, organic, whole-wheat pastry flour
local, organic rolled oats
organic short-grain brown rice
active dry yeast
organic, fair-trade, dark chocolate chips
nutritional yeast flakes
dried blueberries
dried cherries
dried apricots

CHEESE:
local, organic ricotta
sharp cheddar

FROZEN:
organic raspberries
Boca meatless crumbles

HERBS & SPICES:
local, organic ground allspice
local, organic star anise
local, organic Italian seasoning
oregano
parsley

PACKAGED GROCERY:
organic brown rice vinegar
red wine vinegar
aluminum-free baking powder
organic no-stir peanut butter
"Moroccan Pomegranate" red tea
organic apple cider vinegar
organic light agave nectar
local, organic maple syrup
organic pumpkin puree
artichoke pasta sauce
local, organic sunbutter
muffin liners
Seventh Generation laundry detergent
Seventh Generation dish soap
Seventh Generation TP

PERSONAL CARE:
razor cartriges
NatraCare pantiliners

PRODUCE:
organic celery
organic bananas
organic avocado
organic eggplant
organic red onion
organic red bell pepper
jalapeno
organic pitted dates

REFRIGERATED GROCERY:
organic superfirm tofu
Earth Balance buttery sticks
"Watermelon Chill" Naked Juice
local, organic eggs

I should be set for a LONG time, save for produce, don't you think?? :)

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COFFEE:

I usually take my coffee black, but I decided to add almond milk and agave this morning.

ERRANDING SNACK:

I HATE it when I get it in my head that waiting to eat breakfast is a good idea . . . I saved myself by picking up a Naked Juice at the co-op. This one is one of my favorites.

LATE BREAKFAST:

Leftover roll, toasted, with sunbutter.

BRUNCH:

Scrambled tofu, hash browns, and a Minneola.

AFTERNOON TREAT:

The last chocolate-chip cookie.

DINNER:

My friend Ashley came over to hang out, and I made us chili and cornbread. I used the "Very Veggie Chili" recipe from Vegan Planet again, adding a package of Boca meatless crumbles. I also switched it up a little more this time, using kidney beans instead of chickpeas. This may be my go-to chili recipe from now on -- it is so hearty, nutritious, and tasty!

TREAT:

Ashley bought us some pumpkin ice cream! It was SOOOOOOOO tasty. I'm using all of my willpower NOT to finish off the rest of the pint that's tucked away in my freezer right now!

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Don't forget to spring your clocks ahead tonight!

Yoga Challenge (day 6), FLOG

I did 20 minutes of Yoga Journal's "Step-by-Step: Session 1" tonight. (Garnered through Netflix! Woo!) This series is designed to teach novices how to do some basic yoga poses correctly, which I thought could be interesting! I didn't watch any of the introductory material or medical information regarding the benefits of yoga, but I did enjoy the 20 minutes of sun salutations! What a work out, by the way -- lots of relatively fast-paced up and down off the floor. I'll definitely be trying this workout a couple more times before I return the DVD!

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First Breakfast:

Peanut butter and apple butter pita. This was just okay -- my pita is getting a little bit stale.

Second Breakfast:

Consumed with the kids while they were eating "Kix."

Lunch:

Leftover pizza and a salad. I also had a butterscotch-flavored "Dum Dums" sucker.

Snack:

Minneola and cookies. I also had a little popcorn with the kids while they were watching their Friday afternoon movie treat.

Dinner:

I made Melody's Comfort Soup, which I enjoyed and was a HUGE hit with Dan. Anything spicy and citrusy is a big winner with him -- I'm sure this soup will be a frequent request! Thanks for posting your recipe, Mel! Homemade rolls and more salad on the side.

Treat:
Dan and I went to an art show opening tonight, which was at a really cool coffee shop in downtown Saint Paul. Dan bought me a HUGE iced molasses cookie, which I ate part of -- I convinced him to eat the rest. :) It was awesome! Soft and chewy molasses cookies are the BEST.

Until tomorrow!

Yoga Challenge (day 5), co-op haul, and FLOG

I'm regretting not getting up earlier this morning and doing my yoga first thing, because I've had a very long, very busy day, and I still have to squeeze in a short practice! I'm planning on 20 minutes of "Stress Relief Yoga for Beginners" right before bed -- I guess I can't think of a nicer way to unwind after a nutzo day!

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I woke up to this sight this morning:

(Please ignore how DIRTY my fridge is!)

Good thing I planned on grocery shopping after work tonight! Things are looking a little brighter after spending $87 . . .



BULK:
organic "gold & white" flour
local, organic, whole-wheat bread flour
locally-roasted, organic, fair-trade coffee

FROZEN:
local, organic garden veggie pizza

HERBS & SPICES:
local, organic celery salt
kava root

PACKAGED GROCERY:
organic diced tomatoes

PRODUCE:
organic broccoli
organic bananas
organic mango
organic grapefruit
organic lemons
organic Minneolas
organic pears
organic ginger root
organic parsley
local, organic mushrooms
organic yellow onions
local, organic yellow potatoes
local hydroponic romaine
local, organic shredded cabbage
organic grape tomatoes

REFRIGERATED GROCERY:
organic superfirm tofu
organic plain soy yogurt

I was shocked when I looked at my receipt -- 44% of my purchase was local! Whoa! That's a damn miracle for early March in Minnesota!

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The day in food . . .

Pre-breakfast:

Since I was out of coffee, I treated myself to a soy latte. I'm proud of myself for bringing my own mug!

This was my planned breakfast for work:

Imagine the muffin wasn't there . . . because the inside was moldy! Ick. I should know better by now -- STORE MUFFINS IN FRIDGE. So, I only ate the pineapple.

By mid-morning, I was whopper-hungry, (soymilk and pineapple can only take a person so far,) so I raided our stash of kid snacks:

Bug-shaped graham cracker bites did the job. It was the only thing in the stash that didn't contain huge amounts of high-fructose corn syrup. (Shudder!)

Lunch:

Brown rice and spinach-tomato dal, and an apple.

Snack:

Peanut butter and apple butter pita. YUM.

Dinner:

Two slices of the frozen pizza I bought tonight, and a nice green salad, topped with cucumbers and grape tomatoes. I'm also going to go take my vitamin right now, since I'm realizing I forgot to take it this morning!

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I still have a few little odds and ends to tie up before the end of the evening -- and don't forget the yoga! Until tomorrow! (It's ALMOST Friday! Woo!)

Yoga Challenge (day 4) and slim pickings

I have kind of a busy night ahead of me tonight, so I decided to wake up a little earlier than usual and do my yoga right away this morning -- 20 minutes of Gaiam's "AM Yoga," with Rodney Yee. Good enough, but it's definitely not my favorite practice.

And the FLOG . . .

Breakfast:

Oatmeal with raisins and soymilk, with the kidlets. Coffee and vitamin consumed at home before work.

Lunch:

Leftover half a burrito from last night, and some pineapple.

Snack:

Muffin and Minneola. I also had a slice of "cheesy toast" with the kids, and a cherry-cola flavored "Dum Dums" sucker from my "teacher treats" stash.

Dinner:

Slim pickings, since I desperately need to go to the grocery store. (Tomorrow night, thank goodness!) Whole-wheat pasta with marinara and parmesan, leftover edamame, and more pineapple.

Off to choir practice in a little bit -- I may have to update if I fall prey to the treats during practice, otherwise, until tomorrow!

Yoga Challenge (day 3) and FLOG

I did 45 minutes of Gaiam's "Yoga Conditioning for Weight Loss" tonight. All I have to say about that is . . . "proud warrior" kicks my ass, er, arms.

Food . . .

Breakfast:

I woke up earlier than usual this morning, so I decided to have breakfast at home, instead of with the kidlets. Apple cinnamon oatmeal, made with almond milk and a sprinkle of dark brown sugar. (WHY doesn't oatmeal stick with me? It's supposed to! I'm always hungry in an hour or two after eating oatmeal!! Bah.)

Lunch:

Leftover "Hot-Sauce Glazed Tempeh" and baked sweet potato, with some sauteed kale hiding underneath. This was so good, I made up a "lunch dance" with the kids today. :)

First Snack:

Things were rushed at snack time today, so I only had time to shovel in my muffin. I saved the Minneola for my pre-yoga snack when I got home.

Second Snack:

This shot makes my cookie look HUGE! But remember, I'm 5'1", and my hands are teensie.

Dinner:
No photo -- Dan and I went to Chipotle! Yum. I had half a burrito filled with cilantro-lime rice, black beans, peppers and onions, pico de gallo, medium corn salsa, guacamole, and lettuce. I'll show you the other half at lunch tomorrow! MMMMM.

Off to drink tea and sort out the grocery list for this week/end. I'll have Dan's car for a little bit this weekend while he's out of town, so I have a big stock-up trip planned! Woo!

Yoga Challenge (day 2) and FLOG

I decided to step up my yoga workout this evening a wee bit, and chose the "30-minute core workout" from Gaiam's Yoga Now series. I had purchased this set of three DVDs quite a while ago, but haven't ever really used them -- there is a lot of arm-swinging and random jumping around, since the instructors combine yoga and aerobics (I didn't realize this when I purchased the DVDs.) However, I chose to retry this DVD tonight, and although the jumping around and arm-swinging is still a little weird, it was a pretty good workout! My legs, arms, and abs all feel like I did a little more than usual, and my back feels all stretchy and happy.

And, we've had a last-minute participant join the yoga challenge:

A day late and about 19 minutes short of qualifying, but I bet he doesn't care. :)

Today's eats . . .

Breakfast:

I'm going to try and pack healthier breakfasts, instead of eating cold cereal, pancakes, french toast, whatever with the kids. (All heavily processed.) Today, I filled a homemade pita with peanut butter and sliced bananas. Yum. Coffee and multivitamin not pictured.

Lunch:

Leftover rice and dal, and two chocolate-chip cookies.

Afternoon Snack:

Muffin and pear.

After Work Snack:

Pineapple!

(I don't usually snack after work; I'd prefer to eat dinner right away, but with fitting in the yoga, I've had to change up my mealtimes a little bit so I'm not practicing on a full tummy.)

Dinner:

Chickpea and orzo soup, with half a leftover roll. (I would have had a whole roll, but there was only a half left! Rats.)

Off to fold the laundry and renew some library books online. Until tomorrow!

Yoga Challenge: Day 1, and return of the FLOG

Today begins the 31-Day Yoga Challenge! Yikes! I'm still really unsure as to whether I can meet this challenge, but we shall see. I started off easy today -- 20 minutes of "Stress Relief Yoga for Beginners." An oldie for me, but a goodie -- so old, in fact, the copy I have is on VHS! There are several blips and wiggles . . . if I complete the challenge, this will have to be one of my DVD purchases for sure!

And, with the yoga challenge, comes the return of the FLOG, or "food log," for those new to the term. I had such outrage the last time I gave the daily FLOG a rest, I thought I'd bring it back in honor of the yoga challenge. Maybe I'll just start calling March "health month." We shall see.

Anyhow, here's the grub.

Breakfast:

Black coffee and multivitamin not pictured.

Mid-Morning Treat:

If you've never had a Virgil's "Real Cola," you really don't know what you've been missing. So spicy-vanilla-delicious.

Lunch:

Spinach and Tomato Dal, over a brown rice pilaf made with a drizzle of ghee, a pinch of saffron, and a few spices (peppercorns, cloves, cardamom, brown mustard seeds, and cumin seeds.) The pilaf was fantastic, but the dal is STILL not spicy enough! I may have to move away from dried peppers and start using fresh ones. Hm.

Post-Lunch Treat:

The chocolate chip cookies I made yesterday stayed really soft and chewy! Mmm.

Mid-Afternoon Snack:

I think Minneola season is on its way out -- this one was just okay.

Dinner:

Dan was kind enough to financially sponsor a Sunday night special feast, since I don't get paid again until Wednesday. Steamed artichoke (with lemony Earth Balance for dipping,) baked sweet potato, and Hot-Sauce Glazed Tempeh from Veganomicon. I know I've waxed poetic about this tempeh recipe before, but it is TO DIE FOR. Really. So tangy, spicy, almost "meaty," and delicious! Mmm. My mouth is watering just thinking about it, even though I'm still full from dinner! (P.S. The marinade makes enough to do two packages of tempeh, rather than the one package the recipe suggests. Gotta love leftovers!)

Until tomorrow!