Tower Garden Update

Tomatoes!

I am absolutely loving my Tower Garden.  I cut lettuce from it everyday for my lunch.  And look what I have just discovered:


Watermelon!

Peppers!

I planted a little late, that's why my veggies are just starting to sprout.  I've also had tons of fresh basil and chives.  So good and easy!!!!  Leave me a comment if you'd like more info on how to get your own Tower Garden!


Cucumbers!

Mom's Day #5

Our latest Mom's Day Advenure led us to the Akron Zoo.  I'm not sure why we keep heading down to the Akron/Canton area but we do.

The zoo is quite different from the Cleveland Zoo in that it is much smaller.  But we really liked it.  There were some different animals than Cleveland and it was just a nice change.

My absolutely least favorite animal is the octopus.  They have a HUGE one there.  I'm sure it serves some beautiful purpose in the ocean environment but I think it is disgusting.



Of course our Mom's Day outing wouldn't be complete without lunch somewhere.  We almost didn't stop because the boys could NOT agree on where to go.  We finally settled on Friendly's.  Another great time.



Hey! A Fitness Post!!

Look what I did today...

Completely last minute decision, haven't been running all summer, I got the email a few days ago and thought, "Why not?" 

I think I might be a runner.  I've run a bunch of 5Ks and 10Ks and even completed a half marathon almost 2 years ago.  But I only run every so often.  And really slowly.  And only if the weather is nice.  I don't log miles and miles each week.  And I despise running on a treadmill for long periods of time so I can only do "real runs" outside.    Oh, and I'm certainly not long and lean and what you think of when you picture what a runner looks like.  When running comes up in conversations people will say, "Oh, I didn't know you are a runner."  And I always say, "Oh, no, I'm not a REAL runner, I just run every so often."  Huh???? 

It's not everyday, not even every week, but when I can, I put on my running shoes, lace them up tight, and head out the door.  It may be 1 mile, it may be 10.  It doesn't matter.  I am a runner.

 If you're wondering, the race this morning was great.  The weather was beautiful and cool and it was held at Edgewater Park, right on Lake Erie.  I went out with the intention of just having a fun run with some beautiful scenery to look at while enjoying the exciting atmosphere that a race brings.  I ended up with my best 5K time EVER and beat my old PR (from 17 years ago) by over 2 minutes.

Fun Family Dinner

We had a fun time the other night with a super easy dinner!  I had been wanted to roast hot dogs over the fire pit all summer and time was ticking away.  The boys had good old regular hot dogs but I was able to find some organic, chicken dogs for myself.  I'm sure there are lots of healthier picks that I could have had but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. 

Of course we followed up our nutritious dinner with s'mores.  They were delicious!

It often seems that the best memories are the simple ones - like hot dogs and s'mores.  Enjoy these last few weeks of summer with your families and/or friends. 

20 Minute Skillet Lasagna Recipe

Well I never figured I would be sharing this recipe with you but when I made it last night and there were NO LEFTOVERS I figured I must.  And I didn't even eat any of it so that's saying something.

This was very easy to make.  The only real "work" is boiling the noodles and browning the meat.  If I were making this during the school year I might do the noodles the night before, just to save some time.

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (12 oz.) package noodles, your favorite shape  (I used ziti.)
1 (26 oz.) jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. Italian seasoning (or more, if you like)
1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cups sour cream

Directions:
Brown ground beef in small pan.  Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions.
After noodles are cooked, drain and drizzle with olive oil.  Mix in your spaghetti sauce.
Add your browned beef, seasonings, cheese, and sour cream.  Fold together and allow it all to combine and melt together, over low heat, for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

That's it!  All 3 male members of the family loved it.  I used all organic ingredients and grass-fed beef. 

Want to print it out?  You'll have to copy and paste my friends!  Sorry.

Mom's Day #4

Pro Football Hall of Fame

While we were travelling on the highway recently Jimmy saw a sign for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and announced, "Let's go there."  So we did.  If you love football then this is the place for you. 

I'm not sure what all those trophies represent but please notice that both boys are smiling and looking forward with eyes open.  Major accomplishment.

 Here is Jimmy with the players that were inducted the year he was born-1998.

And here is Patrick with his guys from 1999.

There's not much in the Hall of Fame that relates to the Cleveland Browns. =(  No surprise to all you native Clevelanders.  We did find a Josh Cribbs jersey and I wanted to get a photo.  These are all the attemps to get a picture together.







So, you can see how all these turned out.  We had a fun time together but didn't stay too long.  The boys just like to look and not really read any of the information.  We basically just walk through.  On our drive there Jimmy asked, "Why is the hall of fame in Canton, OH?"  Well wouldn't you know it, right at the entrance is a sign titled, "Why Canton?"  I told Jimmy to read it and find the answer to his question.  When we got home I asked him why the hall of fame is in Canton.  he replied, "You don't think I read all that, do you?  It was a really long paragraph."  So proud.

Need Tanning Help?

St. Tropez Tanning Products

OK, so those of you that know me personally know that I have fair, white, pale, ghostly, whatever you want to call it, skin.  I have used and loved a self-tanner from Victoria's Secret for many years.  It is a spray, though, and it can be a pain to clean up off the floor and surrounding areas.

I just tried a new product from St. Tropez (Troe-pay) and am really happy with it.  I purchased mine at Sephora.  The aerosal foam Bronzing Mousse is definitely pricey and is applied in the evening.  It is used every other day.  The Instant Glow Body Lotion is used daily as a touch-up, just to even everything out.  I purchased both products because that's what the salesperson recommended and hey, they're the experts. 

The products are easy to use.  There is a slight odor to the mousse, but nothing horrible.  Just be sure to check the mirror for any streaks or spots you may have missed.  You can apply as much or as little as you want.  I just like it for a little color on my arms and legs during the summer months when more skin is showing ;-).

Mom's Day #3

Harry London Chocolate Factory

The boys and I decided to head to the Akron/Canton area and visit The Harry London Chocolate Factory for another exciting Mom's Day.  This is where they make all the chocolate for Harry London and Fanny Farmer retail stores. 

Our one-hour tour started with a brief video, then we walked through hallways and were able to observe the workers through windows while they made their creations.  It smelled delicious!  No cameras are allowed on the tour, therefore I actually have an excuse for my lack of pictures. 

Of course we came home with a nice stash of chocolates...

Our day ended with lunch at Ruby Tuesday's.

It was another great time with my boys.  Stay tuned for more exciting adventures.

By Request!

Super Summer Salsa

(with no picture)

I wanted to share with you a recipe for fanastic summer salsa.  I found the recipe on allrecipes.com.  I use Allrecipes to find many new recipes.  Each recipe usually has tons of reviews and it's helpful to read any of the changes other cooks have made.  This salsa is similar to Texas Caviar but it's much faster and easier to prepare.  I hope you enjoy it!

Super Summer Salsa

2 (10 ounce) cans sweet white corn

1 (14.5 ounce) can black beans

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

salt to taste

In a large bowl, stirl together corn, beans (rinsed), onion, red pepper, and sugar.  Stir in rice wine vinegar, and season with salt.  Drain liquid before serving.



Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The focus of my blog was to be healthy eating for families with some fitness thrown in.  I am doing horribly with that.  Can you tell those topics are new for me?

 

I decided to share with you my recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies since it is a fave!  Everyone always asks for the recipe.  I have tried many difference recipes for these cookies but my family always says that these are the best.  I hope you like them!

 

Barb's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 T. vanilla

3 1/2 cups flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

12 oz chocolate chips

 

Beat shortening and butter until creamed, add sugars, then eggs and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, combine your flour, baking soda and salt, then add all to sugar mixture.  Beat until mixed.  Add chocolate chips by hand.  Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. 

 

Please let me know what you think.  Remember, if you click on the title of this post it will take you to my actual blog where you can leave me a comment. Fun!

 

Also, I try to avoid using shortening EVER in my baking/cooking.  It is an unnatural product that our body has no idea what to do with.  So this is one of my very few recipes that includes shortening.  See, I did throw in a health tip for you!

Tower Garden Post #2

Just look at my Tower Garden!

It's growing like crazy and is so beautiful!  I have just started clipping a few of the greens for my green smoothies in the morning.  It is so easy to maintain.  I do nothing except check the water level and the pH.  I can't wait until the tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers are ready.  Stay tuned for more growth...

Mom's Day #2

It's been a little difficult to schedule my Mom's Days with my boys.  Yes, I actually need to plan it ahead of time as these kids have things to do!  After a few basketball camps and out of town tournaments I found we had an empty day.  It is a tradition that the boys and I visit the zoo each summer so we were off.  Here are some things that never change:

1.  We always get there early and get a good parking spot and beat the crowd.  Tip - the zoo opens at 10:00 but you can get in earlier if you arrive at say, 9:45, or 9:38, like we did today.  You just can't get into any of the buildings until 10:00.  I can't believe some people get there really late and have to park a mile away.  That would drive me crazy.

2.  We always put our lunch down on the same table in the same pavilion every year.  So far it has never been stolen.

3.  We always start with the elephants.  Have you seen the new Elephant Crossing?  Awesome.
4.  We follow the same path through the zoo and we are fast.

5.  Apparently it is also a tradition that I spend $7.00 for 2 slushies.

6.  We always have a fun time and these guys make me laugh so hard.  I am holding onto Jimmy's shirt in the picture because he kept backing out of the photo without me knowing.
7.  We have yet to see something exciting going on in the hospital there.  I guess that's good but everytime we go in there I am crossing my fingers that there will be some big camel laying on the exam table ready for surgery.  Or it could be something smaller, like a monkey or a turtle, or maybe it could be just an X-ray.  But nothing, nada, zero.

And here are some things that do change with our zoo trip:

1.  The boys carry the cooler.  No more lugging for me.
2.  There are no boys running ahead of me and pointing out each animal.  Sad, but true.
3.  While we were walking around Jimmy said, "Mom, I think I'm getting a little old for the zoo."  Ha, little does he know.
4.  I'm the only one who needs bathroom breaks.

So that was our visit.  I will continue to buy a zoo pass every year and enjoy every minute I have with these guys.  Who can blame me?

Monster Bars

Monster

Bars

These Monster Bars are so good!  I made them twice in two days simply because they are THAT EASY!  The first batch was consumed by the kids and their friends that were over for swimming.  The second batch was for just us when we went on a picnic.  I literally had everything whipped up and ready to go even before the oven had preheated completely.  Simple!

Monster Bars

9 full graham crackers

4 tbsp. butter

1 can sweetened condensed milk

3/4 c. oats

3/4 c. M&Ms

3/4 c chocolate chips

In a zip top bag, crush the graham crackers.  Once crushed, add the 4 tbsp. butter to the bag.  Place in microwave and melt in 30 second increments.  Should only take 1 minute or so.

Remove from microwave and mix the butter and graham crackers together until fully incorporated.

Press the graham cracker crumbs into a well-greased and parchment lined 13x9 baking dish.

Evenly pour the sweetened condensed milk over the graham cracker layer.  Then sprinkle the oats, M&MS, and chocolate chips on top.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until browned and pulling away from the edges.

(Sorry I don't know how to do the print links yet.  You'll have to copy and paste.)

*My notes* - I made one batch with fat free sweetened condensed milk and one with full fat.  The fat free was a little chewier but I didn't really notice a change in flavor.  Yes, that means I sampled one from each batch.  Or possibly more.

Store in an airtight container.

Mom's Day #1

As a teacher, I treasure these summer months and being able to spend time with my two sons.  As each year goes by I see our time together changing, less of "us" and more of "friends."  While I realize this is normal and natural and the way it's supposed to go it still takes some getting used to.  I used to be the ringleader, the organizer, the one deciding how we spend these precious minutes.  Now I'm a bystander, and plans are presented to me and in a moment's notice they're out the door (minus the mom).

With two tween/teen boys it's getting more challenging to find activities that we all will enjoy.  At this point, I don't care if we're all going to enjoy it, we're doing it anyway.  I am calling these Mom's Days.  We had our first Mom's Day today and went to a Fossil Museum about 40 minutes from our house.  Neither boy is actually that interested in fossils or dinosaurs.  (Although Jimmy did have a dinosaur party when he was 3.  I think that counts.) 

Don't they look excited?  How about that body language?

Getting out the door is easy.  I no longer have to pack bags and snacks and make sure everyone has gone to the bathroom.  I don't tie shoes or fasten sandals.  A simple, "I'll be in the car, someone put the dog in his cage" and we're off.

The car ride is quiet.  No more babbling, fighting, crying.  A couple of IPods and we're good to go.  But even with all these differences I felt so good.  I felt full, happy, content.  It felt so perfect to be with my boys, headed on the highway, like we used to do so frequently.  I guess it's true that the less you do of something the more you cherish it. 

The trip was a success.  Both boys were able to explain some new facts to their father during dinner.  Although while we were talking about it Jimmy said, "Really, when was that mentioned?  I must have dozed off during that part."

We finished up the morning with lunch at Jimmy John's. 

Here's to many more Mom's Days!  I'll keep you posted.  (Get it?)

Homemade Doughnuts!!!

I was so excited to receive my new Wilton doughnut pans from Amazon.  Time for some homemade donuts!!

I made a vegan/gluten-free vanilla doughnut.  Some of the ingredients that I needed to purchase included coconut oil and potato starch.  I couldn't find the coconut flour so I had to substitute a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose.

Don't they look so excited to be enjoying my new creation?  Well actually, they hated it.  I think the highest score I received was a 3.0 on a scale of 1-10.  I think part of the problem was my presentation.  I need to just forget telling them about the "vegan/gluten-free" part and just say, "Hey, look, who wants a doughnut?"  I'll try that the next time.

P.S.  I loved the doughnuts.  They were very light and fluffy and had a nice, vanilla flavor.  My husband said they tasted like play-dough.  He is sleeping in the garage.

Tower Garden Post #1

Do you love fresh vegetables but are always running out of them?  How about growing your own?  This is my new Tower Garden.

Isn't she a beauty?

You can grow any vegetable here and there is no soil involved.  The seeds/seedlings are placed in each of the little openings that you see and will grow from there.  The base is filled with water and a pump circulates the water through to water all the vegetables.  I ordered this through my Juice Plus represenative.  (Want to hear about Juice Plus?  That's another post!)  You can go to www.juiceplus.com and read all about their wonderful products, including this one.  I hope to move this indoors in the winter (well, hopefully my husband will) and enjoy homegrown vegetables all winter long.  I'll take more pics as the veggies grow so you can see the progress.

Strawberry Picking

It is a tradition to go strawberry picking with my boys on the first day of summer vacation.  We continued the tradition except for Jimmy (now 13 years old).  He slept over a friend's house the night before so he didn't come.  I was disappointed, but these are the ways of teens - which I am learning.  Patrick and I set off together and picked 6 buckets.

I freeze most of the strawberries and use them for my green smoothies (which I drink for breakfast on most days) but this year I also made some strawberry muffins and jam.

Oh, I also made strawberry lemonade for the boys and my new favorite snack:  Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries, and granola.  It's not too exciting of a picture.

Yes, it's kind of a large bowl but I think that was my dinner for the day. 

What is your favorite strawberry treat?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

Happy Father's Day!

OK, so I'm realizing that to have a blog you have to actually take the time to sit down and write.  The ideas and thoughts swimming around in my head cannot just jump into the computer.  I will work on that.  I hope to have 1-2 posts per week.

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there.  My husband happens to be one of these.  I am so lucky for all he does for our family.  I couldn't find a picture of him with the boys (which would be more appropriate for Father's Day) so this one will have to do.  Remember, I am new at this.

Thursday Things

1.  Today is my last day of school.  What a feeling to have the whole summer stretched out before me.
2.  It is a tradition that I do not cook dinner on my last day of school.  Yeah for Chipotle.  (My pick.)
3.  Should I sleep in tomorrow morning, go for a nice run, or head up to the gym?  These are important decisions, people.  I'm thinking the gym will win out.
4.  Had a great time at my son's baseball game last night.  It is pure joy to watch him play even when he doesn't do anything extraordinary.  (Moms, you know what I'm talking about.)
5.  Jim (husband) is not too crazy about putting family pictures on here but I'll try to work some in every so often.  Actually, he's not too crazy about the blog, period.  I think he thinks I'm exploiting the family.  I better be careful what I write since he is my only reader at this point.
6.  Still no travel plans made for the summer.  I'm really OK with that.
7.  I'm thinking (well, more than thinking) about getting certified to teach fitness classes.  It makes me feel excited and terrified at the same time.  That's OK, right?
8.  I'm going to miss driving my 7th grader to school every morning.  Often, it's a quiet ride.  Other times, it's the best 2 minutes of my day.
9.  I am completely excited about the new doughnut pan I just ordered.  Yeah, for Amazon Prime.  The best.  I have some recipes for vegan/gluten-free doughnuts that I can't wait to try.
10. Tell me something about your Thursday.  Leave a comment for me!

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