tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933303338486675142024-03-21T11:40:55.457-04:00Something Beautiful Inside of MeLiliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13108428834613054696noreply@blogger.comBlogger661125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-62692350373101244542013-05-15T13:38:00.002-04:002013-05-15T13:38:52.500-04:00Can I Afford to Eat Organic + GMO-Free?I am not so sure, but I do plan to try. I find that I'm generally more successful at doing this in the summer because of our CSA which is not certified organic, but <a href="http://sienafarms.com/about.php">Siena Farms</a> does use sustainable techniques and do not use peticides and herbicides. <br />
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Here are a few things I've changed in our kitchen and I few I plan to change - I've stared [*] the items we've already begun to do, I've put this marker [~] for items we occassionally do (when the $ permits), and I've left things we plan to do with no notation<br />
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<li>*Join a CSA and allow it to provide 90% of our vegetible produce from June - November & 40% from December - Allowable.</li>
<li>*Purchase Bob's Red Mill Flour to use in baking - WW when possible</li>
<li>*Cook at home from scratch! </li>
<li>*Buy what's in season rather than what you are craving</li>
<li>*Can can can! Can the summer harvest of local fruit and veggies (Farmer's Market) whenever possible (or freeze)</li>
<li>~Purchase 100% organic eggs</li>
<li>Purchase 100% organic dairy products (especially milk & cheese)</li>
<li>Puchase organic GMO free whole chicken and cheaper cuts of beef</li>
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And remembering that when we can't stick to these changes, to still practice consuming healthy alternatives (instead of that cupcake... mmmm cake!)Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-66732804994306618842013-05-15T09:18:00.001-04:002013-05-15T09:18:21.287-04:00Clothing: Trends, Habits, Choice...I have not written anything not baby or home related in quite some time. Today I was lead to this article: <a href="http://www.becomingminimalist.com/a-practical-guide-to-owning-fewer-clothes/">A Practical Guide to Owning Fewer Clothes</a> from <a href="http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/">The Frugal Girl</a> blog. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially as I pack for yet another move.<br />
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Have you ever really LOOKED at all the clothing you own? I have clothing that: is of high and low quality, fits and sorta fits, classic or trendy, cute or unique, used & new. I have a lot of clothing. I used to be a shopper - I hated the act of shopping but during my moments of boredom, I'd stroll through racks and racks of sales items, picking up what I thought was a good bargain. Please note: It's is only a good bargain if: 1) it will fit, 2) it looks nice, 3) you'll wear it AND 4) it will last. All 4 of these coupled with a good price RARELY happened.<br />
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I now find myself wanting to purge but purge smart! Paul is a minimalist with clothing. He only keeps a small rotation of items he likes and wears regularly in his closet. I'm not quite there yet. During our packing sessions, I went though much of my winter clothing and got rid of any older items I don't wear. I also went through my summer items and got rid of items that were either cheaply made or that I hardly wore. I did hold on to a few newer items though... ones I've never worn and hope to one day fit into again (post baby), but who knows - it may require another purge.<br />
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Where I struggle is giving away clothing that fits me well, and is nice and made with quality but that I never wear or don't need (because how many pairs of black slacks or jeans do you need?). I feel as if I may one day wear them. It is a silly thought process. I don't NEED all these items. But at least I'm making progress. Hopefully as I unpack in our new home, I'm able to fill another few bags of clothing to be given to Goodwill. <br />
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Another style or group of clothing I have a hard time purging is formal wear. Paul has convinced me to get rid of a few gowns that are out of style, but for the most part - they aren't worn often enough to really hold on to, yet are sentimental enough to keep. It's a silly reason to keep a dress (or 10). I am the only one in my family with this body time, and I'm the only size 8 in the family. I can't pass them down - so I should pass them out... to someone who may love them and create sentiments of their own with the garment.<br />
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And lastly - I'm struggling with maternity wear. I've purchased almost nothing for myself. I've purchased: 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of cords (that already ripped... old navy), 3 inexpensive old navy dresses that I'm already too hot to wear, 3 long sleeved shirts and 2 short sleeved shirts. All the other items I have were gifted to me or passed down from friends or family. Unfortunately, most of those items are winter sweaters or casual wear. I've decided to hold on to all maternity clothing as I'm hoping to have more children and the pieces are simple and can be worn again - even years from now. In an effort to not buy so much, I have not purchased enough clothing to get me through a work week comfortably. I know that I need at least a few more short sleeve simple shirts, 1 pair of pants/slacks/khakis and 1 dress (for my shower) and then I'll feel like I can get through July... hopefully.Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-12548686431801179682013-05-08T14:03:00.001-04:002013-05-08T14:03:01.618-04:00Frugality + PracticalityI've been ignoring this blog quite a bit. Mostly because I'm focused on my baby, my body & our home purchase which is all captured in youreyesmynose.blogspot.com. <br />
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I however have been thinking about how much or a financial investment our recent life changes will be. Marriage, relocation & job changes aside... in the same summer we'll be home owners and parents! That's nuts!<br />
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As a way to prepare for this we chose to live in a nice but reasonably priced apartment both in NY and Boston allowing us to save. We also chose to purchase 1 car instead of 2 when replacing my older car. We purchased much of our furniture used or from discount stores and have made great use of them. But how are we going to continue to live a frugal lifestyle moving forward while still remaining practical?<br />
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1) We've <strong>minimized our use of paper products</strong> in the home. We use family cloth for #2 and kitchen towels for all clean ups in the kitchen. We use microfiber cloths for dusting and cleaning. Washable cloth items have become our friends. I also use a hanky instead of a tissue when out of the house. I need to purchase a few more so that I can bring this habit into the home as well. This change is not just excellent for our pockets but has been great for the environment as well.<br />
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2) <strong>Meal planning</strong>. I don't plan ahead however I do plan to cook what is available in our home. We eat left overs and we try and bring our lunch... we don't always succeed but that is what we strive to do. This saves us a significant amount of money and cuts down on our waste. We also eat almost all our dinners in the home.<br />
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3) <strong>Travel less</strong>... We traveled quite a bit during our pre baby pre home years. We took trips out west and vacationed when possible. I still think the family time is important, but the trips don't need to be as far from home or as costly. A few more camping trips with a few more days at the beach or a trip to the mountains of the NE will do us well. We also travel a lot to NY. I don't think this will be avoidable as our families and support systems are located there, but with baby in tow, it may create less of an opportunity while drawing family to us a bit more (the house and extra room help as well).<br />
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4) <strong>Frugal Soaps! </strong>We make our own laundry detergent using a mix of baking soda, washing soda & grated ivory soap. We've eliminated the borax with Baby on the way. We also use white vinegar purchased in bulk as a fabric softener. We purchase an eco friendly dish soap that we buy in bulk and use sparingly for hand washed items. We haven't found a good dishwasher recipe and have reverted back to using store bought dishwashing soap. We currently use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cascade-Complete-ActionPacs-Dishwasher-Detergent/dp/B002SB95ZK">Cascade Complete</a>. We only run our washer when absolutely full. In the bathroom we use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Castile-Soap-Original-3pk-Ounces/dp/B001D4YDKU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368034521&sr=8-1&keywords=kirks+castile+soap">Kirk's Castile Soap</a>. It is all natural and vegetable based just like Dr. Bronner's Soaps but it's a bit cheaper. We opted to purchase a box of fragrance free so that it'd be gentle enough on baby. It's nice how you can swipe your hand accross the top and that small little touch of soap lathers and lathers and lathers. We also use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bronners-Magic-Soaps-Pure-Castile/dp/B0006NH946/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368034714&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+bronners+tea+tree+oil">Dr. Bronners Tea Tree liquid soap</a>. On our hair we try to use a tea tree based shampoo and conditioner and sometimes head and shoulders (I have dandruff). I began washing my hair only once a week years ago so shampoo generally lasts us a long time. Our general household cleaners focus mostly on vinegar & baking soda.<br />
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5) <strong>Hand Me Downs</strong> - we love them! When we don't have an item and someone offers it to us used, we take it with gratitude. Towels, dining tables, co-sleepers, clothing... sure! It's free, it's useful, and it keeps the items from the landfill!<br />
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6) <strong>Live Simply</strong> - Fancy things cost more than simple things. If we chose to live simply and still be happy than we automatically save money. So yes, we eat simple foods much of the time and only indulge on occassion. We also try not to over complicate our lives. <br />
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7) <strong>DIY or Not</strong> - I think something we'll have to find the balance of in home ownership is knowing when to DIY and when to... well hire a professional.<br />
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8) <strong>Don't buy into trends</strong> - we dress in classic traditional clothing. We don't purchase based on trends which allows us to keep our clothing in rotation for a very long time. We also began rotating our closets by season which I've found to both reduce our hoarding of clothing we don't like, don't fit, or don't wear and creates a surprise excitement each season when we remember a piece of clothing we forgot we had.<br />
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9) <strong>Repurpose</strong> especially for storage. We hold onto almost all glass jars that come through our kitchen and reuse them for leftovers, cheese, dried goods, etc... We repurpose old sheets and clothes to clean with. We mend clothing. We try to be creative!<br />
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I'm sure that we'll learn other tricks along the way. By living simply, we've been able to contribute more to our retirement plans, save enough to purchase our dream home at a great interest rate, put money away for the babies needs, travel regularly to NYC, be generous with charitable contributions, go on vacations, and go on date nights. We hope to continue to live frugally yet practically. The minute these tips become impractical for our lifestyle, we will need to evaluate their worth.<br />
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Do you have any frugal or simple living tips?<br />
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Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-11273158440672608212013-03-21T14:27:00.004-04:002013-03-21T14:27:46.020-04:00Things K SaysK is almost 9... and he still says the funniest things.<br />
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If you haven't guessed it by now.. Paul and I are expecting our 1st child. My baby bro will not touch me... he says I have pregnantvitis... it is more contagious than gingervitis (turning into a red head with freckles).<br />
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He will however eat breakfast if I make it... because he has had the vaccine. You know... he got spayed.<br />
<br />Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-4272069651889820202012-12-11T16:40:00.000-05:002012-12-11T16:40:39.421-05:00All I Want for Christmas...is - nothing.<br />
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I feel like I have everything I could want or need. <br />
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I'm blessed. But I do know Paul wants to get me something. I'd like to get him something too. We are both stumped ... haha I guess that's better than wanting EVERYTHING.Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-77992497352438697102012-11-06T18:04:00.001-05:002012-11-06T18:04:00.526-05:00I votedTonight as I filled in little circles on the right of the candidates names I was sure of who I'd select. At the end I was asked my vote on certain issues. One was if I'd vote yes to legalize marajuana use for medical use. <br />
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I filled out no. I truly believe its a gateway drug. In a elementary school with signs hung everywhere and thought of their future. <br />
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It looks like they are thinking of it too. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnsdV9uFXUh0kia7zpRhUlFik3hXiQJndPW1cP6i9XmvHF_6SwSbEMb3wOelNnAg1VswuS2tRuNE6WhVVjbjJdyDWuFzxjX7hFvSdA86IXoF30cNC3eWcUO15iWcwIFE2Bsbj6cC4iQvf/s640/blogger-image-509105259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnsdV9uFXUh0kia7zpRhUlFik3hXiQJndPW1cP6i9XmvHF_6SwSbEMb3wOelNnAg1VswuS2tRuNE6WhVVjbjJdyDWuFzxjX7hFvSdA86IXoF30cNC3eWcUO15iWcwIFE2Bsbj6cC4iQvf/s640/blogger-image-509105259.jpg" /></a></div>Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-52642501613255031062012-10-31T09:46:00.004-04:002012-10-31T09:46:40.531-04:00Sandy StinksThat Frankenstorm, Super Storm, or whatever people are calling it was horrendous. It's aftermath left NY in shambles and left me feeling helpless.<br />
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It's not about it ... it shouldn't be, but I'm emotional seeing what my home is going through... for many transplants that left NY ... NY will always be our home.<br />
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It irks me how people are calling it a joke... the people who are saying that... I'm quick to delete. I don't need to associate with people who have zero compassion.<br />
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I'm just venting.Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-82929046651834976682012-10-29T09:12:00.001-04:002012-10-29T09:12:07.581-04:00Hunkering Down For SandyI imagine everyone in the US, Caribbean & most of Europe are well aware of Hurricane Sandy. I'm sure all the people on the East Coast, particularly in the North East are well aware that as Hurricane Sandy travels North West and is expected to hit land today before it travels up the Eastern Seaboard there is another storm approaching. A Winter storm from the North that will collide with Sandy creating what Meteorologist have now coined the Frankenstorm. <br />
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This is a storm with pressures that the East Coast has never before seen or experienced (at least since such events have been measured & recorded). I'll be honest - that's what scares me the most.<br />
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The part that bothers me the most is my proximity to my family... or lack thereof.<br />
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My family is located in Queens, NY. Thankfully they are a few miles outside of the evacuation zones. The part that scares me about this is that on Saturday, my Grandma was discharged from the Rehab she was staying at for 1 month, while her broken arm healed. I don't want her to experience any discomfort or lack of necessary care at home.... that includes losing power or not having enough to eat. On the good side, she's within very close proximity to 2 of her cousins & 1 of her sons. The other son is a bit further away, but given decent weather conditions, he would find it easy to get to her if she needed help. And the saving grace is that my sister & brother in law are in the house with her. If I was in NY, I'd have definitely hunkered down for the storm at her home with her.<br />
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I also worry about my mother & my baby brother and sister. They live in Putnam county... in lake country surrounded by large trees. I worry less about flooding because they live at a high elevation compared to the lakes, however, the trees. Even the smallest storms seem to fall trees causing them to lose power (and thus the ability to cook or have heat!) A Fireplace only warms the livingroom and even then, only barely. Thankfully this is the fall and not the winter. <br />
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My Mother in Law lives alone... close to my Grandma. She has a giant tree above her bedroom. We urged her to sleep in the guest room - because you never know. I hate that she's alone.<br />
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In the end I just hope everyone is safe!<br />
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We are prepared here in Boston - Paul & I are working from home. I made banana bread last night, I bought a case of water and filtered a few pitchers just in case. I made tuna pasta and a salmon salad - you know, in case I can't use my stove - which I think I still might be able to even without power. So I think we have what we need... the only thing we don't have is family.Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-4409897726830941552012-10-28T18:34:00.001-04:002012-10-28T18:35:01.303-04:00Pomegranates for ChreapToday I stopped at Aldi to get some staples before the storm And for the week. They had pomegranates for about $1 each so I picked up 2. I never opened one before. They are so weird. This one was on the dry side but still tasty. Paul and I are snacking on them while watching the Giants game. <br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlyp-9lU1n0RLclX6btWa4-A7-Fj7IggIafxfBF2F4RICj5oNlJ5sii0OMCZCOWOAy6liSkX8M9KIQ9ljemhR0BDVQNbormr2AVUECsN1yczRmCZg_TlYWfi6_e90XJQElqRtaxZIGxOa/s640/blogger-image-890138072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlyp-9lU1n0RLclX6btWa4-A7-Fj7IggIafxfBF2F4RICj5oNlJ5sii0OMCZCOWOAy6liSkX8M9KIQ9ljemhR0BDVQNbormr2AVUECsN1yczRmCZg_TlYWfi6_e90XJQElqRtaxZIGxOa/s640/blogger-image-890138072.jpg" /></a></div>Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-45635200121021390452012-10-27T07:00:00.000-04:002012-10-27T07:00:04.367-04:00Seasons: Why I love the North EastI've never lived anywhere other than the North East, but I've traveled quite a bit. One of my favorite things about home - whether that home be in NY or in MA ... are the seasons! I don't necessarily LOVE all the seasons, but I do love having seasons.<br />
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My favorite is probably early Autumn... I love the cooler mornings and still sunny warm afternoons. I love the bulky sweaters and thick socks. I love the colors of the leaves. I love pumpkins & spice & apples! I love the afghans sitting on laps while sipping tea. I really love it all! <br />
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Soon comes winter - and I love the quiet of the winter. Even when living in Manhattan - a snow storm would quiet the whole city leaving a blanket of clean white. In the country, the snow lasts for days, fluffy & inviting. Snowboots and wool socks, winter hats & mittens. The hot cocoa & a treat with a blanket & a book. The baked pastas & roasted hearty vegetables, the holidays & of course ... the Snowboarding! I love almost all things winter... but it's a love hate affair. I hate the mucky slush the day after snow. I hate the dark mornings & dark nights during the work week. I hate the draft from our old windows. I hate digging out my car to get to work. <br />
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Spring's longer days become inviting and energizing. The lime green beginnings of leaves & grass are cheerful. The warmer days encourage activity and socializing. But the allergies stink, taxes stink, and the end of snowboard season double stinks!<br />
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Summer then comes with it's sweltering humid heat. This is by far my least favorite season. Though, beautiful and green, I feel lazy and tired during the heat of summer. The beaches aren't as entertaining as they were when I was a child. However, the camping trips, and bike rides & hikes & boats ... and even the beach still excite me during this time of year. And lets not even get into the fresh produce! LOVE THAT!<br />
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I could never be happy living anywhere else - because I truly enjoy our seasons... I love the change. I love the cyclical nature of it all. I love that I know what's next. I love the variety. It keeps life interesting!Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-38501062794618294302012-10-26T10:01:00.002-04:002012-10-26T10:01:29.884-04:00Butternut Squash & Parsnips Baked PastaLast week's CSA share included a butternut squash, parsnips, shallot & leeks... among other yummy vegetables! <br />
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My boss mentioned how excited she was to make her favorite pasta dish with her share. It is a <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/butternut-squash-parsnip-baked-pasta-10000000522199/">butternut squash baked pasta dish</a> and is a cooking light recipe. I asked her to share the recipe and it turned out pretty good. As usual I didn't measure anything - so when the parsnip flavor was a bit overwhelming, I really had no one to blame but myself. <br />
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This recipe reminded me a lot about a recipe my friend Jerry made for me a few times. It was so good and he has taught me to make it but I rarely do because of the thick fattening cream sauce. While making the recipe from Cooking Light, I realized I can use the same technique in Jerry's recipe & cut much of the fat. This was a very exciting revelation because I love baked pasta dishes, especially when those pasta dishes consist of squash or sweet potato. I may just leave the parsnips out and roast those to eat solo from now on.<br />
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This is a terrible picture but... at least I took one.... AFTER we ate 1/2 the tray haha<br />
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<br />Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-40604075749039633472012-10-18T15:25:00.001-04:002012-10-18T15:25:17.329-04:00Finances & BudgetingHave you ever taken a real hard look at where you spend your paycheck every month? Paul and I recently hired a financial advisor and he made us do just that. We had to break up our cash flow for an entire year. When we saw how much was supposed to be left and how much was actually left - we got a good picture of how unrealistic we saw our spending.<br />
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Since then, we've both taken a serious effort in being aware of where we are spending money. By doing this, we've been able to curb our spending quite a bit. It forced us to look at our cell phone bills, our car insurance, our utility costs, and even our gas costs. The place we've been able to make the biggest impact on spending has been on groceries & clothing.<br />
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I never grocery shop unless I need things that will fulfill a few days worth of meals. Otherwise, I adjust what I had planned to make for what we have currently in the house. I'm mostly able to do this because we participate in the CSA providing us with 24 weeks of fresh produce. Without this, I'd likely need to make at least weekly trips to the market for produce. We regularly dig into our freezer and stretch our meat proteins as far as we can. We primarily drink water. <br />
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We also never go shopping for clothes or house goods unless we truly need them. Granted, we occasionally have an event we'll want a new shirt or dress for, but even then, we look to our closet 1st. We replace old worn clothing with new, but try and buy on sale and we don't buy things just because we like them. We only grab them if we know we need them.<br />
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Even with these changes - we've still fallen short on saving the amount we are expected to save based on our model. It's been a lot of work but we've come pretty close. My goal is to save a particularly large sum in 3 months. Its pretty aggressive, but I think we can do it by continuing to be smart about our spending. I hope setting a hard and firm sort term goal will hold us accountable and get us there.<br />
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Do you practice any good budgeting practices? We could use any advice you are willing to dish up!<br />
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Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-15107212958702322002012-10-18T08:56:00.000-04:002012-10-18T08:56:37.786-04:00Patience and Tolerance<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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“I have learned silence from the talkative, tolerance from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strangely, I am ungrateful to these teachers” - Kahlil Gibran</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I lack both patience & tolerance. Some days I do better than other's but I do know that I need to work on this. I have many weaknesses, but the most noticeable is most definitely my intolerance & impatience for others & my inability to relinquish control.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I tried to look deeply within myself to think about why I might be like this and I came up with many possibilities during this self reflection. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 - all the women & many men in my family are like this... is this a learned trait?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 - I fear that if I relinquish control, things will not move the way I intended ... but does that really matter?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 - I always think that I'm right and therefore other's are wrong... no not always, but enough times?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 - I like the feeling of other's looking to me for help and support when it comes to particular topics... possibly though I'm not certain this is a reason.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have no idea what makes me like this but I know I am. I think that my patience & tolerance levels are so low mostly because I fear losing control. Am I like this with everyone? Most likely. I know I've been this way with my husband, my family & my friends. I've likely been like this with God. Who knows how many times I stopped something great from happening because I was so busy making sure something good would.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think I need to learn how to take a step back - and breath - and have patience and allow other people to come in, to allow God to do His thing, and most of all, be at peace when things don't happen as I pictured them. </span></div>
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Now for my intolerance of certain people & their opinions and views - that is a whole other ball game I need to work on. With the rise of social media came the rise of spewing ignorance and or opinions. I shouldn't judge people by where they stand on topics ... especially topics that are so unimportant. I have been so turned off by my friends & family because of the BS they post on FB and other social sites. Should I really care about what they write? No - I shouldn't. But sometimes I read the negativity that is constantly coming out of their mouths or seeing the hypocrisy behind what they & how they live and it makes me want to call them out on it... but what good would that do me? What good would that do them? Then I'd be just like them... spewing negativity while complaining about theirs? It's like a stupid cycle of ... stupid!</div>
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I need to snap out of it. I need to update my FB so I see only positive feeds lol... which honestly I did start to do - if you see the # of people I'm friends with but are blocked from my news feed, you'd laugh... it's at least 1/2.</div>
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Anyway - here is to recognizing 1 of my weaknesses and hopefully making myself accountable enough and encouraged enough to change!</div>
Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-24332005796257761922012-10-17T07:00:00.000-04:002012-10-17T07:00:10.684-04:00What to do with all our apples?! - Apple Butter & SauceDo you have a slow cooker? If you do - you are in for a treat! Homemade apple sauce is easy on the stove top but even easier in the slow cooker! Apple Butter is a long and tedious task on the stove top but with a slow cooker it makes it a cinch! Try it for yourself!<br />
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<b><u>Apple Sauce </u></b><br />
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<b>6-8 medium apples</b><br />
<b>1 cup sugar</b><br />
<b>1 tsp cinnamon (may omit)</b><br />
<b>1 cup water</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Peel, core & roughly dice your apples. I fill my crock pot until it is 2/3 full.</li>
<li>Add sugar, water & cinnamon & stir </li>
<li>Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours</li>
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You can use less sugar if your apples are sweet or add more if necessary. Extra apple sauce can be frozen. If you are using glass containers, me sure to leave head space for expanding.</div>
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I also made a batch sugar & spice free to use for baking!</div>
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<b><u>Apple Butter</u></b></div>
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<b>6-8 medium apples</b><br />
<b>1 cup sugar</b><br />
<b>1 tbs cinnamon</b><br />
<b>1 tps freshly grated nutmeg</b><br />
<b>1/4 tsp allspice</b><br />
<b>1/4 tsp clove</b><br />
<b>1 tbs lemon juice</b><br />
<b>dash of salt</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Peel, core, & roughly dice apples. I fill my crock pot until it's 2/3 full which can take more apples if they are on the small side.</li>
<li>Add lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove & salt - stir</li>
<li>Cook on low for 12 hours - remove cover & cook another hour to allow liquid to evaporate. You can cook this up to 2 days with no problems. I usually don't time it and cook it until I have the time to process it. </li>
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You can use less sugar if your apples are sweet or add more if necessary. Spice can me adjusted for flavor preferences (I sometimes add more cinnamon & all spice). Extra apple butter can be canned or frozen - leave head space for expanding.</div>
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Apples - ready to begin cooking!</div>
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Apples after about 12 hours of cooking</div>
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Apple Butter with buttered toast or cream cheese on crusty bread for breakfast... mmmmmm</div>
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<b>That's it for my apple recipes so far. If you have any ideas - share, please!</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-2811244815442367302012-10-16T12:24:00.002-04:002012-10-16T12:24:59.770-04:00Cloth Pad & Diva Cup Update - TMI ALERTThis will be talking about my menstrual cycle - if this turns your stomach I suggest you stop reading now!<br />
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I recently wrote about how I purchased my 1st set of cloth pads <a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2012/09/cloth-pads-tmi.html">here</a> & have written a bit about my experiences using a Diva Cup <a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2009/08/did-you-know-tmi-alert.html">here</a> and <a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2009/09/tmi-alert-diva-cup-update.html">here</a><br />
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<strong><u>Diva Cup Update</u></strong><br />
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I've been using the Diva Cup since August of 2009 and could not be happier with the switch. I find that I feel cleaner, more confident & less limited while using a menstrual cup instead of a tampon and/or pad. I still find that on my heavier days I'm able to fill the cup quickly and need to empty it & wear a panty liner or light pad for just in case.<br />
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The Diva cup has changed the way I travel, snowboard & camp. All the activities that became very difficult during my cycle are now within reach. The clear downside is the cramps! <br />
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<strong>Snowboarding with my Period - then and now</strong><br />
In the past I'd load my snowboard outerwear pockets with tampons and many times find that I'd get to the bathroom just too late. I'd have a mess, no easy way to get out of it, and feel damp and nasty. Not to mention - the tampons would be crushed 1/2 the time from falls or awkward movements. Now I don't have to worry about that. During my heaviest days I still take a few more breaks than maybe necessary just to make sure I don't have any accidents. I also wear a pad or liner just in case. <br />
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<strong>Camping & Rafting with my Period - then and now</strong><br />
I love camping and a rafting trip is always part of the itinerary. In the past I had to make frequent trips to the camp bathroom which was always damp, dirty & the opposite of private. After washing my hands of all the camping grime, I'd have to change my tampon. Before I knew it, I was back in the bathroom doing it all over again. During rafting trips I regularly found myself hiking my way through poison ivy looking for a private place where I could fish the zip lock baggy of tampons out of my lunch sack and do an exchange. It was gross and the opposite of ideal. Now I'm able to bring 2 Diva Cups with me. I wash 1 while wearing the other and store it in my toiletry bag for when I'll need it next. If I have access to a bathroom, I empty my cup, rinse it and pop it back in... if I don't, I remove it, clean it off with toilet paper & keep it to clean more thoroughly later while popping in the clean one. During rafting trips - I just don't do anything at all. I haven't found the need to change it during the 4-6 hour trips! It's great!<br />
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<strong>Traveling with my Period - then and now</strong><br />
Traveling used to be such a hassle... I'd never know if I was going to have my period or not. I'd take a bag of feminine products only to not need them... then on other occasions have nothing and need them desperately. Now I have my diva cup (2 in fact) and I just pop it into my toiletry bag and I have it wherever I am.<br />
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<strong>How I clean it</strong><br />
The directions say to boil the diva cup at the end of your cycle to sterilize & to wash it during daily use in the Diva Cup soap ... or a non oil based soap that is unscented. I almost NEVER do this. I use some unscented Dr Bronners baby soap and water... that's it. I've been doing this with the same bar of soap I purchased in 2009... and I still have about 1/2 left. I've seen no degrading of my Diva Cup and the cost savings are obvious. I know that the website discourages this but many people have used it finding it to be fine!<br />
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<strong>Why I do it</strong><br />
I use a menstrual cup for many reasons and I will list them below:<br />
<ul>
<li>I am reducing my carbon footprint and my contribution to landfills</li>
<li>It does not contain leaching chemicals, synthetic materials, dyes, etc.... that have been identified by some as a carcinogen (read here)</li>
<li>I feel cleaner & it makes my life easier</li>
<li>I'm more comfortable</li>
<li>I have less accidents</li>
<li>I save tons of money!</li>
</ul>
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<strong><u>Cloth Pad Update</u></strong><br />
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I am immensely enjoying my cloth pads. The only down side is that I wish I had more of them. I purchased a starter pack from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Pleat?ref=seller_info">Pleat on Etsy</a> for about $24. They came with an overnight, a regular & a liner. I've used all three and have found them to be very effective.<br />
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I used the regular during the day during my heaviest day in conjunction with my Diva Cup. It stayed in place and was very very comfortable. I did not get any discomfort that I usually get when wearing a maxi pad (especially with the dry weave). In the evening I wore the overnight pad and found it to be absorbent enough, but a little short. I leaked a bit similar to how I leak with a disposable. I found that I'd need an extra long pad for over nights. The light pad I used during the day to supplement my Diva Cup during a moderate flow day. I found that it helped up quite well. There was a tad more shifting compared to the regular & overnight sizes, but still found them comfortable. The biggest down side was not having enough.<br />
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Today I put in another order with Pleat for 2 more liners and 2 more regular pads. I believe these will be great to use in conjunction with my Diva Cup during the day and for the tail end of my cycle when I prefer just to use a liner. I did not choose to order another overnight pad as I felt they were too short. Instead I will look at longer pads through other vendors.<br />
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I am currently looking at the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinklemonadeshop?ref=pr_shop_more">Pink Lemonade Shop at Etsy</a> for their 11 inch over night pad & their 13 inch post partum pad.<br />
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<strong>How I use them</strong><br />
I use them no different than you would a normal pad. They law on top of your panty and have a small snap to attach underneath. I don't even feel it there. When I need to change it, I rinse it under cold water and throw it in the garbage pail that I use for my family cloth wipes in the bathroom. I find that because I use them to supplement my Diva Cup, I do not have to change them while I'm at work.<br />
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<strong>How I wash them</strong><br />
Because I rinsed them, they are usually a bit damp. I throw them in the wash with the rest of my family cloth & run them through a regular cycle. I use my regular <a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2011/08/homemade-detergents.html">homemade laundry soap</a> & vinegar as a fabric softener rinse aid. Then I line dry them like I do mots things.<br />
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So far I've been beyond satisfied. Would you try any of these things? Do you think they are just crazy?<br />
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Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-35353242579434988042012-10-16T07:00:00.000-04:002012-10-16T07:00:10.681-04:00What to do with all our apples?! - Apple Puff Pastry!<a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-to-do-with-all-our-apples-apple.html">Apple Galette Recipe</a><br />
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<a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-to-do-with-all-our-apples-1.html">Apple & Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash </a><br />
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I felt like desert but I didn't feel like doing all the work. The galette dough I made ahead was in the freezer and I wasn't up to thawing it out. So while at the grocery store I bought some puffed pastry. With some inspiration from <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/05/quick-easy-and-yummy-apple-tart/">The Pioneer Woman</a> & <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/334356/apple-tart">Martha Stewart</a> I made my own.<br />
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This is definitely the no brainer cheat recipe! And I called it a tart and get bombarded with people asking if it was a puffed pastry... bah - its good! Who cares what to call it!<br />
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So here is what I did ....<br />
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1 sheet of store bought puff pastry<br />
3 TBS homemade apple sauce (or a good quality store bought)<br />
1 Apple - cored and THINLY sliced<br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon<br />
1/4 tsp nutmeg<br />
2 TBS Sugar<br />
1 egg - beaten<br />
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees<br />
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<ul>
<li>Thaw your puff pastry sheet on the counter or refrigerator according to the box directions. Slice the thawed dough in 1/2 and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.</li>
<li>Toss thinly sliced apples with sugar, cinnamon & freshly grated nutmeg in a large bowl</li>
<li> Brush edges of puffed pastry with egg wash being careful to not let it drip down the edges of the dough.</li>
<li>Spoon apple sauce into center of dough and spread up to egg washed edge</li>
<li>lay sliced apples over apple sauce</li>
</ul>
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown and puffed up<br />
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I liked it better hot right out of the oven, but if you prefer to let it cool - enjoy it cool. Or ... hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqSgW92LuyIT59pxGbtYLPgR5wdKHsRs0E_U5m7Q2ROhuGYJ9089Cuj5jPYFHc6hgwp89gJ61-GRitySKLZyTZsLIGcaEG-Z8A_nq6ZA6yiujWMdTyLoukuYkFe6y4TViXQOuSzefDm4v/s1600/a4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqSgW92LuyIT59pxGbtYLPgR5wdKHsRs0E_U5m7Q2ROhuGYJ9089Cuj5jPYFHc6hgwp89gJ61-GRitySKLZyTZsLIGcaEG-Z8A_nq6ZA6yiujWMdTyLoukuYkFe6y4TViXQOuSzefDm4v/s320/a4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-83391073597818364572012-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:002012-10-15T07:00:16.567-04:00What to do with all our apples?! Apple GaletteTo see What to do with all our apples?! Apple & Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash click <a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-to-do-with-all-our-apples-1.html">here</a><br />
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We of course made another Apple Galette! They are so good! Of course we made this immediately! I was lucky enough not to have to work during the Saturday of our quarter close however everyone else from my team did. So I made one for them and dropped it off while it was still hot. They were all grateful and they loved it... even with the whole wheat crust. To see the recipe check <a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2011/09/apple-galette.html">here </a>on last year's post!<br />
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<br />Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-15107803948211918562012-10-14T07:00:00.000-04:002012-10-14T07:00:02.524-04:00Green OnionYou will not believe when I bought these green onions! I bought these for 99 cents at Aldi back in August. It's now mid October and I'm still using these green onions! All I had to do was throw them in a jar with some water and they re-rooted and continued to grow. I change the water at least every other day. It makes me feel good that I'm not being wasteful, I rarely have to run to the store for green onions, and I saved money! Why not!<br />
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<br />Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-40298902631997482872012-10-13T16:54:00.002-04:002012-10-13T17:01:59.516-04:00What to do with all our apples?! - Apple & Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash!So far we've thought of many many delicious things to do with our apples!<br />
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I found this recipe for <a href="http://www.preventionrd.com/2011/10/sausage-and-apple-stuffed-acorn-squash-weekly-menu/">Sausage Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash</a> over at <a href="http://www.preventionrd.com/">http://www.preventionrd.com</a> and felt utterly inspired. I had very few of the ingredients on the recipe so I made my own adaption and it turned on great!<br />
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<b>The Acorn Squash</b><br />
I lightly rubbed olive oil, salt & pepper on my halved acorn squash & placed them face up on a baking sheet to roast for 40 minutes at 400 degrees.<br />
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<b>The Filling</b><br />
Again I used what I had on hand and I did not measure anything so these are guestimates!<br />
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1/2 bulb of fennel<br />
1 1/2 - 2 Sausage Links - Mild Italian<br />
1 Clove Garlic<br />
1/4 Finely diced onion<br />
1 Apple - peeled, cored & diced<br />
3-4 TBS Panko Breadcrumbs<br />
1 Egg<br />
Parmesan Cheese for sprinkling<br />
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Brown the sausage without casings until fully cooked. Drain off oil and add onion, garlic, fennel & apple. Sautee until tender. Add sausage to vegetables & heat through. Take off heat and stir in panko bread crumnbs and 1 egg. Stir to combine. Stuff inside cooked acorn squash & sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Return to oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!<br />
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This recipe was soooo good & a definite hit for Paul & I. We will be making this again - possibly this week! =)<br />
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<br />Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-9180525318089237392012-10-13T16:35:00.003-04:002012-10-13T17:28:31.181-04:00Apples Galore!<br />
We go apple picking annually and some times a few times a season. We don't particularly love apples, but I grew up going apple picking with my grandparents & mother and cousins and siblings... and basically anyone who wanted to go - we packed the car and went. We'd spend the whole day at the orchard picnicking with Filipino Fare. It was so fun, so good, and just loaded with memories.<br />
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When Paul and I started dating, I introduced him to this tradition and it's quickly became one of ours. We've managed to go every year... including a year we decided to go in Kentucky, where he was living at the time. They are always filled with smiles, apples, apple treats & of course apple pies once we get those babies home!<br />
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This year we went to <a href="http://smolakfarms.com/">Smolak Farms </a> not once, but twice! And we've been using our apples ever since!<br />
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Here are the photos from today's apple adventure!<br />
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This was the sign on the road to the "Secret Orchard" - yes that's it's name. It's the last orchard they pick from of the season and that's where we were. They only had Cortlands and Macs left... and that was good enough for me. I kind of wish I could be a resident though... imagine living on a private road with no neighbors save for a farm... oh wait - and the 100s of weekend warrious there to pick their own at the farm? Scratch that.</div>
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Last time they let me drive the apple truck - this time we thought it'd be fun if Paul got a turn</div>
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He always smiles when he gets a good apple! This smile is how he stole my heart!</div>
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This is his I'm a serious guy face. I don't believe it much either.</div>
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I told him to stand in the sun so the shadows don't ruin the picture... apparently Paul can't open his eyes when facing the sun... woops!</div>
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Yes, he does crazy things like this... and this is only 1 of many awkward public poses he performed at the orchard. (Picture him crouching and flexing imaginary muscles in the farm store to convince me that buying 1/2 a dozen cider donuts would be bad for his physique!)</div>
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Yes, sometimes Paul takes my picture too. It was a balmy 40 something degrees this morning.</div>
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There is our mid-sized carving pumpkin. It's speckled with green and mostly round with a great curved stem. I thought it was great. I think Paul wanted one triple it's size!</div>
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I love this farm. I love the set up, the people & the homey feel... but most of all - I love the view!</div>
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Didn't you know that pumpkins grow on trees?</div>
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no you don't believe me?</div>
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here is proof!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iIZUMR29jJAQ3ALeF5j2U9d-bhXgEb1RwG9l0DV03Rukel1KgsCNqEKdOx4KKPw7gB1dV7_3YrbO7HWc0PTVPY_cgRiIPlTYQpZjUYjOvMbWHQlGaMSFrtsv8Hcj7lsyLwlerSYovJ8d/s1600/IMG_8713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iIZUMR29jJAQ3ALeF5j2U9d-bhXgEb1RwG9l0DV03Rukel1KgsCNqEKdOx4KKPw7gB1dV7_3YrbO7HWc0PTVPY_cgRiIPlTYQpZjUYjOvMbWHQlGaMSFrtsv8Hcj7lsyLwlerSYovJ8d/s640/IMG_8713.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pumpkin tree!</div>
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I liked the Oregon Trail esqueness of this photo haha</div>
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No one died of dysentery in the making of this photo</div>
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Don't lie... you live in the North East because you love all of the seasonal changes too right? No? You don't? Well screw you and move to Florida!</div>
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So many delicious apples!</div>
Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-57383385969337519272012-10-12T10:43:00.003-04:002012-10-12T10:43:51.947-04:00Our WeddingToday I thought back to our wedding and jumped onto our wedding website for the 1st time in FOREVER!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mywedding.com/szatmaryrios/index.html">http://www.mywedding.com/szatmaryrios/index.html</a><br />
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643 days since we were announced as Man & Wife in front of Family, Friends & God.<br />
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Amazing.... Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-20589160886273571382012-10-08T13:07:00.001-04:002012-10-08T13:07:34.970-04:00Apples!We have so many apples - apple pie, apple gallette, apple sauce, apple butter, apples apples and more apples!<br />
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we also have TONS of cabbage.<br />
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And Kale<br />
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And Lettuce<br />
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And raddishes (I don't like raddishes that much)<br />
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HELP ME!!!<br />
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Send me recipes & ideas<br />
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Most of the other goodies I already have ideas for - many many ideas =)Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-46482848927057391542012-09-21T08:52:00.003-04:002012-09-21T08:52:34.881-04:00A Weekend OffMy grandma broke her arm late Friday night of Labor Day Weekend. She spent some time in the hospital and is now at a rehab facility in NY. As such, I've been back and forth every weekend to visit her. That coupled with the fact that since July we have only spent 2 weekends at home. So I decided that this weekend, we'd stay in MA. We'd enjoy some husband and wife time, go apple picking & clean our neglected house. And good timing too! <br />
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Paul's cousins are visiting for a day from Argentina next week. I don't want them staying in a dirty dusty guest room covered in clothes!<br />
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I hope this weekend is good and I hope my grandma doesn't miss me too much!<br />
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Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-32835813615650044712012-09-20T09:02:00.002-04:002012-09-20T09:02:52.513-04:00Unfinished & Other Projects!This blog post is really just to keep me honest! I have WAY too many unfinished projects.<br />
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<strong>Baby Girl Cardigan:</strong><br />
A few weeks back I decided I was going to try a new project. I grabbed some baby yarn that Paul had picked out and got to work following this pattern - <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90439AD.html?noImages=">Swing Set Cardigan</a>. You need to have a Lion Brand account to view it. Sign up, it's free!<br />
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I finally got all the pieces done and put it together. Aside from one sleeve being a bit wider than the other, I think it turned out pretty good for the 1st time. I still have to sew on a cute button & weave in the tails. (I hate that part the most). I'll be sure to update you with photos!<br />
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<strong>Face Cloths turned Facial Pads:</strong><br />
I had some cute <a href="http://www.joann.com/images/14/33/0/xprd1433010_m.jpg">Red Heart Eco-Cotton Yarn in Candy Marl</a>. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. I began making a face cloth by following a pattern for a granny square with a rounded center. I thought it would be an easy project to do on the road since it's small, compact & easy. As soon as I got home, I changed my mind. I have a bunch of terry face cloths now and I hardly use those. What is the sense in making more. What I could use more of is cotton balls or cotton pads to apply <a href="http://www.thayers.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=16">Lavendar Witch Hazel</a> Toner to my face. I recently had to purchase another package of cotton. And being tha I want to limit single use items in our home, why not make some facial pads with my cotton yarn. I think they'd make great scrubbies too for make up removal & exfoliating. I plan on following the following patterns <a href="http://www.crochetspot.com/crochet-pattern-facial-cleaning-pads/">1</a> & <a href="http://gretchkalsloomknitting.wordpress.com/2010/01/01/crocheted-cotton-face-rounds/">2</a> ... or just making a simple 2-3 inch round. Now I'll just need to find my mesh bag for delicates. I'm sure it's somewhere.<br />
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I also plan on sewing some square flannel cloths of about the same size. I think the flannel may end up better for toner application and the scrubbies better for face washing. I won't know until I test them out.<br />
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I believe that will limit my cotton use to nail polish remover only. Not too shabby.<br />
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<strong>Sewing Update:</strong><br />
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I haven't picked up my machine in forever, but I seriously need to get onto tailoring a few things or I'll have these stacks of clothes sitting in the sewing basket FOREVER.<br />
<br />Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293330333848667514.post-89961835439679302492012-09-19T13:04:00.003-04:002012-09-19T13:05:08.353-04:00Cloth Pads - TMIHi folks - As I've written many a time - I use a Diva Cup. You can read about my adventures using a Diva Cup <a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2009/08/did-you-know-tmi-alert.html">here</a> & <a href="http://somethingbeautifulinsideofme.blogspot.com/2009/09/tmi-alert-diva-cup-update.html">here</a>.<br />
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I still use panty liners & sometimes a pad during heavy nights with my Diva Cup. I fear leaking if I am bleeding heavily. I realized that there are so many cloth pads out there - it seems silly to go 1/2 way in regards to my cycle & female health. <br />
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I logged onto Etsy.com this morning and found <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/95083234?utm_source=transaction&utm_medium=trans_email&utm_campaign=purchase_buyer">Muffies</a>! I'm so excited! They have good reviews & they are cute & pretty and they look like they will work perfectly. They also are said to be of great quality which means I can use them for years - thus saving money!<br />
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I hope to receive them in a week or 2 and I'm almost excited for my period to come ... just so I can tell you about them.<br />
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I ordered a sample of 3 - 1 overnight pad, 1 regular pad & 1 liner. They totaled ~$25 which shipping. My hope is that I'll find the size that feels right for me and can order more of that particular size.<br />
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I'll be sure to update you in about a month!<br />
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& Check out Pleat if you are interested in purchasing some of your own! <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Pleat?ref=seller_info">http://www.etsy.com/shop/Pleat?ref=seller_info</a>Liliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151681970472167836noreply@blogger.com0