I could talk about the two main camps of New Years Resolutions – You’re either into them and writing up a whole laundry list of things to accomplish in this brand spankin’ New Year, or you don’t really do the resolution thing and you carry on with your fresh days of 2013 as you would have if they were still a part of 2012.

I don’t think I’ll get into that though. Everyone else has done it enough already. But for the record, I stand more in group #2.

That being said, I do like that fresh feeling a new year brings. Even if I don’t set any specific year-long resolutions to meet. And I did happen to introduce a few new mini challenges and activities to this first month of the new year.

1. SPIN – I had tried it before a couple years ago. Loved it but only tried it on a trial gym membership and that died after a month (21 days, $21!) so… so did my spin experience. Now that I have a real gym membership, I finally brought some spin back into my life a couple weeks ago and am I ever glad I did.

2. DODGEBALL - Oh yes.  A regular 6th grade pro (*cough*…or not), this game all but disappeared from my life well over ten years ago and with my recent joining of a dodgeball team, I’m bringing the skills back! …Now if I could only learn to throw…

3. PCS – Rotating sessions of 100 pushups, crunches or squats every day. I did this successfully a while back. Tried again last month (not quite as successfully) but now I’m in it for the haul!

4. Photo-a-day – As it sounds. One photo, every day. No topics or leading words. Just snapping a photo of something every single day. I’m sure not doing this to portray my glamourous life (especially considering every single photo has been taken in the comfort of my own home, of things directly in front of me – like my water bottle or an awkward figurine of a duck), nor to improve my photography skills (as is evidenced by the photos). It’s more of an exercise in discipline – Can I complete it?

And, well… I’ve already missed a couple days so if that’s considered a fail then I guess not. But fortunately for ME! the fact that I’ve managed to pull out the camera and take a picture of something non food-related almost every single day so far, especially considering my camera had been on vacation for a long while before this month, is a pass in my books. And this challenge is ruled 100% by my books. Win!

The rest of January’s in-home visuals so far?

Peering at the winter wonderland first thing in the morning.

Fruit platter in the making.

Bouquets at breakfast.

…Beer at breakfast? (Or rather just one of my brother’s many daily beers of Christmas break).

Christmas florals -poinsettia – as viewed through a tree (Aren’t I artsy).

The aftermath of my breakfast smoothie – Ninja’d! 

Black coffee and an article about the makers of Holy Crap! cereal (haven’t tried it yet but I’ve seen it on the shelves and sure am more tempted now). Great little startup!

This bulb hangs out in my fake bedroom tree year-round. Who said bulbs in trees were Christmas-exclusive?

My daily dose of apple cider vinegar and gummy multivitamins.

My keyboard is dazzling.

As is the decor atop my dresser. I heart glitter.

My saving grace on the days I work from home in the most ice-frigid room of the house.

Dinner anyone? (Oops. I was trying to avoid taking food pictures for my photo of the day. But food prep doesn’t count. As I’ve officially ruled right now.)

My sputtering Blackberry that likes to die on me at random after bare minimal use. New battery currently in the mail. New phone upgrade due… soon? Please?!

Chugging water all day, ‘er day.

How the heck am I going to find another two weeks worth of awkward household objects to take pictures of? The real challenge begins…

What a pattern…

I miss blogging. Well… writing. 

Of trying to figure out what to be, how to be, who to be.

Maybe the “food blog” thing doesn’t fit to a T anymore. Well, frankly, I don’t think it ever fit to a T per se, but it fit well enough that it could remain one of my semi-regular outfits with a bit of mild tugging and adjusting.

I think, though, that maybe I’ve outgrown that outfit now. Or maybe just for now.

But one way or the other, it just doesn’t feel like it fits anymore. And I think that’s why I struggle with writing. Because I just want to write outside of the box that I originally pigeon-holed this blog into in the first place.

I just can’t take picture of all my “meals” anymore. It’s fun once in a while. I’ll probably still do it once in a while. But not everyday. Or every second, or third. Done with that…for right now. (Plus, no iPhone = no Instagram… and that is the newest, trendiest way to food blog, no?)

Time to reach beyond meals and exercise. They mean something, but what else is out there? What else is out there for Me?

It might soon be time to move beyond the ‘Lighter Portions’ walls. New blog box to settle into? Maybe.

Life is full of a whole lot of maybes right now. A whole lot. Probably more maybes (and a whole lot more I don’t knows and what the hecks and help me pleases) than I’ve ever experienced before. Quarter life crisis and GO. Thank you 20s.  You’re terrifying…awesomely full of potential, but still unbelievably terrifying.

And that about sums up the current state of my mind – Random, inconclusive, messy, confused, over analytical and never, ever shutting off.

Often when I get home I’m simultaneously tired yet antsy (sitting all day really revs up those ants in the pants). Typically I’ve already done my workout for the day (6:45 AM baby!) and doubling up on dripping sweat sessions just isn’t likely (sorry mushy tushy).

Lately, with the lovely warm weather and the sunshine’s late bedtime hour, evening walks with my jams are my go-to to wind down the pant ants. There’s little more calming and therapeutic than a long evening walk with blasting tunes and setting sun. And if I really had a bad day, loud angry music and stomping steps are practically active meditation.

But on those nights when the clouds are heavy or I’m just extra hungry (or can’t ignore my rampant sweet tooth…so basically every night), nothing cures the post-work oxymoronic needs for calm yet stimulation like a good dose of baking. Soothing yet frantic. Relaxing yet chaotic.

I probably bake more than I should for sitting on my derrière for my entire day. But I use 98% “healthy” recipes so it’s okay, right? The poor derrière might not agree (especially since it’s rare that anyone else around here besides me will touch my “special” treats) but I’ll bet my nutrient load is spectacular.

Anyway.

I like really simple recipes that I can throw together and have baked and finished in no time flat. Really like. NO fuss = GOOD.

If your recipe includes pumpkin, egg whites, applesauce, yogurt or cocoa powder, I’ll probably try it (I never said my standards were high). If it’s a muffin, I’ll especially probably try it.

If it includes protein powder… I might not. I’ve had some pretty failed attempts at protein powder and baking. I know, I know, it depends on the type yada yada. But anyway, I gave protein powder baking another shot recently and I’m pleased to say, remakes might happen!

Banana Muffins  - My mom tried these… and LIKED them. They have protein powder and coconut flour… and she still liked them. I practically fell over.

I actually made two banana protein powder muffin recipes last week but do you think I can find the second one? Of course not. I do have a picture though. They collapsed in the middle but tasted like banana bliss.

There’s also this little “PowerCakes” craze going around that I’m pretty down with. I baked up this beauty but without the carrot … I was too lazy to shred it in the moment, what can I say (I did throw in plenty of spinach though). I captured just about the worst picture ever but don’t trust my photography skills, trust the recipe!

I say I bake a lot but I also mix even more. Mix, combine, meld, whatever you want to call it. I like throwing things together. They don’t necessarily have to come out of an oven.

Example: “Ice Cream” or something like it. Something like That Darn Ice Cream that Katie and Stuft Mama have made me crave for ages now.

So I finally caved and made it (here with cereal and frozen choco bits). I can’t say it goes head to head with a big classic cone of the real stuff, but it’s light and delicious in its own perfect way.

Where was I going with this? Basically I’ve just made a ridiculous amount of food-like things lately as the result of an overdone after work hobby and I felt like sharing a few. There will be more I’m sure.

But for now, it is time to cut off the rambling.

***Help? I also need to figure out a better way to blog. I used to be PC. Now I’ve gone over to the dark Macbook side. But I miss Windows Live Writer! I can’t lie, not a fan of blogging via WordPress. And my google research tells me nothing Mac-compatible even compares blogging software-wise… or $$-wise (free is unbeatable). Recommendations, anything?

How about right in the middle?
My middle.

I just drank some ACV (or Apple Cider Vinegar for all you non-informed) and it’s currently sitting a little unsoundly in middle so it’s on my mind.

There’s some hype around this stuff (just Pinterest-search it, you’ll see)

I’m sure there have been many positive and negative experiences with all of the above options.

I can only vouch for myself and so far I’ve only tried drinking the stuff. And I drink it almost every day. About a Tbsp plus a dash of cayenne pepper and a dash of cinnamon mixed into a large  glass of cold water.

Whether or not it’s actually doing something, I’m going to keep at it for now. Word on the street sounds promising and I figure it can’t hurt…well, unless it actually is eating away at my stomach. But let’s just say it’s not and go with that. Next step is trying it topically… my Clinique toner just isn’t satisfying my skin’s needs.

This crazy gal.

I’m honest. I miss doing this blog thing, I really do. I have for a long time.

But I miss writing and rambling and all that jazz that comes along with having a blog. So I’m just going to come back without explanation, as truth be told, I really don’t have one. I didn’t sail off on a bold adventure or develop a daring and jam-packed lifestyle. I just got bored and uninspired and decided to trail off. For a while. Quite a while.

Well actually, there is one perfect way… and that’s to just do it (thanks Nike). Come back. Write. Jump in. Nothing else needed.

I don’t know exactly what I’ll come back with. Though it doesn’t matter really.  That’s far too many details. All I know is that I’ll be back in and keeping afloat in one way or another.

(found via http://mountainsandbuffalo.tumblr.com/)

Feel free to float alongside, share my paddle board! Just don’t pull it away…my swimming skills could use some work.

Or am I…

To conclude: I’m here! And I’m spent.

1. I suck at blogging – Yeah really.
“Oh yeah, I’ll be back to regular blogging soon!”
“Oh yeah, I’ll write this, that, and the other thing about my new work scenario.”
Oh yeah… didn’t happen. I also apparently make false promises. MY BAD.

2. I suck at taking pictures of my food. – Yup, I essentially quit doing it. Once upon a time it was a fun hobby. And then everyone and their mother got a food blog, and a fancy schmancy camera with 10 different lenses, and fancy schmancy light box setups for optimal food photo lighting, and customized layouts to make their blogs sparkle and shine…etc etc etc.

And I did none of that. Hello simplicity. Hello tumbling downward into food blog oblivion. Hello not being excitable enough about the whole trend to do much else about it.

(Not knocking all of the stellar fancy schmancy food blogs out there. It’s pure admiration only, dears. I just don’t quite care enough to go that far myself… at least not right now!)

3. I CAN, in fact, become an early morning exercise superstar. – Before, I never quite understood how people could drag their buns out of bed and find the energy enough to get a workout in before the sun rose. But it’s all mental, people. Mental and restful. Get a good night’s sleep (aka reduce your bedtime by an hour or two) and convince yourself that you want to work out in the morning (it’s ridiculously nice to have the workout DONE and the evenings completely FREE) and you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Early morning pre-workout coffee helps too.

(A beach to run on would also be nice)

4. How to make the easiest, fastest poached egg EVER. – I don’t remember where I learned the technique (I’ve read at least 12 internet tutorials for poached eggs over the last year) but here it is:

Take a small ramekin or glass bowl. Fill it halfway with water and add a splash of vinegar. Crack an egg in it and poke the yolk with a fork. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Put in the microwave for 45 seconds. Check it, then put it in for another 10-15 seconds. (If I put it in for a minute straight it gets too hard.). Remove from the water with a spoon. Break that egg seal and let the yolky goodness run free.

Voila Breakfast!

A good, ol’ flash in the pan runny egg does the trick too.

5. No amount of green smoothies or citrus fruits can cure my invincible cold. – I’m probably the most hated person at work. I’ve had an undying cough for over two weeks now. I don’t think that’s normal. If I laugh… it immediately turns into a coughing fit. Running… I stop every two minutes to clear out my lungs.

Why so many false promises, green drink of not-so-glory?

Why are you not working your magic, Mr. Orange?! Such a jip. Vitamin C my tushy.

I’m going to try to squeeze myself into the doctor’s tomorrow… by this point I think meds are my only option.

6. Baking is one of my favourite pastimes. – Okay fine, so I had this realization a long time ago. But it has only been solidified by the fact that now, even though my free time has been reduced, a good chunk of it still goes towards whipping up some of the many (many) recipes bookmarked on my computer.

Muffins!

Chocococonut Style

Guess who got my brother to eat BEANS in his dessert…and LIKE it…Katie did! With her Deep-Dish Cookie Pie – a MUST make (I halved it and used a normal cake pan and it turned out perfectly…and was gone in a day).

Well folks, the fact that I actually updated this thing is PROGRESS. And in my opinion, any progress is a good thing. So here’s to progress… and hopes upon hopes for more even better progress to come.
(I do miss this but I also hate my suffering-from-senioritis laptop that I still have yet to upgrade. Goal for the next week or so – Buy a MAC!).

Oh oh, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

(source)

My name is Kristie.

Once Upon a Time I would write here in this very space about the things I ate. Usually I’d post pictures. Sometimes they looked appetizing, other times they did not. But more often than not they satisfied my undying cravings for good eats.

This Once Upon a Time time was characterized by one main premise: Idle Time. Much Idle Time.

But then all of a sudden, from nowhere apparent, this little thing called Life appeared in a cloud of dust, filling the room. It grew and it grew until it consumed Idle Time as I knew it.

With Idle Time’s rapid disappearance I was suddenly transported into a new world, one enveloped by this thing called Work. Time was there too, but not Time as I knew it, not Idle Time. Idle Time was gone. In its place – Filled Time.

This new world with Filled Time was confusing at first. It took some getting used to. It is still taking some getting used to. It is quite a bit different than Idle Time. At first it may seem a little stressful or draining, especially after spending so much time with Idle Time. But you soon come to realize that Filled Time has many benefits.

Filled Time brings productivity. It brings responsibility. It brings social acts. It brings pocket change. It brings a sense of self. And it brings a much greater appreciation of that lost Idle Time that pops its head in every now and again when you seek it out. Idle Time is easily taken for granted when you have too much of it. Lessen the doses and its impact is much more effective.

In going from hardly employed to 3x employed in the past couple months, I’ve come to understand Time a bit better. To understand the great benefits of Filled Time. To budget, savour and appreciate the smaller splashes of Idle Time.

Time is inherently good. Time is your ally, not your enemy. Understand it, treat it well, and use it wisely and it will work in your favour no matter what ratio of Filled to Idle Time you might be experiencing, no matter how much or little of it you might feel that you have.

“Time is on your side.”       ;)

Now for Old Time’s sake, let’s bring in some FOOD.

Starting off with a little Pita Pit Paradise – One fine day a while back I mentioned the beauty of Pita Pita. A fellow blogging companion, Marianne, mentioned a winning combo that I needed to try: The FALAFEL (falafel, feta, tzaziki, hot sauce, pickles and plenty o’ veg). I jotted it down and vowed to try it during my next pita run. Well guess what I ordered the other day when the local Pita Pit had a Customer Appreciation Day (ALL pitas, ANY size for $3.99. OH yeah.)

Check out the goods.

FEAST.

I’ve also been doing the egg thing on these chillier fall mornings.

Egg white omelette with spinach, salsa and swiss on a toasted english muffin? Don’t mind if I do.

Or how about hardboiled style with Frank’s and ketchup?

Along with a glass of sludge here and there (a spinach and blueberry smoothie makes one mean mouth-staining drink).

And of course we wouldn’t truly have fall without some form of fruit crisp, now would we. That would be peach crisp. (We can ignore the fact that this was made when it was actually technically still summer. I couldn’t wait for the official fall season to eat official fall desserts.)

The next Time I’m here I’ll tell you all about Tea, Texans and sore Tushies (all attributable to this new world in the land of Filled Time).

For now, enjoy your Time in the best way you can think up.

Until next Time.

(chez…)

(chez…)

(chez…)

And sleep time owns my Brain-a.

So that’s all my thoughts for Today-a.

(Any award-winning recipes for the sharing?)

Now?
Well, if anyone cares enough to take look at this poor blog’s history from the last few months, there isn’t much to see…

(It’s looking a little empty around here…)

Once upon a time I updated this (somewhat) regularly from my laptop.
(Now that I’m done school I avoid opening my laptop as if it were Pandora’s box. I regret it nearly every single time I do. I spend 90% of the time that I am using it cursing at it and threatening its last traces of life. I’m still in need of a new one. I’m still very much going to buy a new one –> transitioning to MAC baby! I’m just great at putting off spending large lump sums of $$. It’s a scary thought. But it IS happening. Most likely within the month.)

Now?
Right now I’m on my big box screen PC, rockin’ it old school.

Once upon a time I had too much free time.
(This summer equaled WAY too much free time. You think you want more free time…but too much of anything can be a bad thing. Free time definitely included.)

Now?
My free time is about to virtually disappear. I mentioned starting a new job a month ago (… but failed to ever elaborate on that. Surprise surprise.) and just started another one, this one full time, at the beginning of the week. Bring on the busy (but don’t make me eat those words by the end of the month, please).

(I swear I’ll actually elaborate on the job dealios this time…just next round. But it’ll be there.)

Once upon a time I had a Lava Lamp.
(I dunno I just really wanted to put up a picture of a Lava Lamp. I used to actually sleep with mine turned on every single night.)

Now?
Even the faintest trace of light keeps me up. The alarm clock glow is blocked with a book tower or a shirt. I do miss that lava glow though.

Once upon a time it was summer.
(Technically it still is. But I snub technicalities.)

Now?
Since tomorrow is SEPTEMBER 1st, it is now (temperatures aside) basically FALL –> the best season ever. This is also the first one ever that I will not be going back to school. Such a bittersweet realization. I always secretly looked forward to going back to school, even when I sometimes dreaded it at the same time. By the end of summer I was ultimately always ready to go back to school. And this year I can’t. That being said, I’m excited for THIS fall for a multitude of other reasons.  

Welcome September!

Once upon a time I wasn’t quite so conceited…and I talked about food…
(Still doing plenty o’ blog reading, much more often than I’m doing my own writing. I’m looking for a voice of some kind. Mine writing ‘voice’ is a little hoarse right now. The downtime I’ve been giving it has been helping. Maybe it will come around soon. I’m feeling more like writing again… I’m just not quite sure what yet. Time shall tell.)

[all pics found from searches via weheartit and pinterest]

What are YOU looking forward to for this lovely FALL month?

I AM well.

I just spent a week out here:

Doing things like this:

(intense game of Scattergories on the dock)

And watching people like this:

(my uncle)

Do things like this:

(pretty self explanatory but… getting married!)

At places like this:

(gorgeous outdoor ceremony and stunningly decorated reception in a lovely hotel in Northern Ontario)

With people like this:

(my brother (top), cousins (bottom) and entire family (unpictured but very present and very awesome)

We posed:

We laughed:

We drank:

We danced:

And we had one incredible, memorable, heck of a great time.

Congrats to my uncle and my now “official” aunt, and shout outs to the whole entire fam jam for contributing to and taking part in the best moments of the summer.  Love ‘em all.

Back soon!