Days 17-19: Get a new hobby
PIN IT!
This sums up my current boredom!
I don’t have ADD, per say, but I get bored of things really quickly. Whether it be tv shows, movies, clothes, people, jobs or places to call home, my mind starts to wander and my feet start to jitter after just a short while [sometimes this happens after just a day!] I’ve always been this way and I don’t know where my wandering soul came from but I can’t stay stuck in the same place doing the same thing for too long or I start to go insane. Usually, I can stay still if there are new people and new things to keep me occupied, but even that is no guarantee. So as I gazed out the window on day 17, I couldn’t help but let my mind and body begin to wander.
Since I can’t move and have no vacation days left to use, I needed to find something else to appease my urge to run into a new life. It took some time but I realized what my cure could be [if even is just temporary for 2 days]. What I need to keep me occupied for a while is a new hobby, one that inspires, challenges and entertains me. So after some deliberation, I came up with just the thing. Start my own little garden.
It’s imperative to first mention two key things before I go on. 1. I live in an apartment in the city. 2. I do not have a green thumb. Knowing these two things head on, I still decided to perservere and begin my own little vegetable greenhouse. As a health nut, I try to eat fresh produce whenever I get the chance, however, I run into the issue of my fruits and vegetables going bad because I am unable to eat them up quickly. So not only does a vegetable garden provide me with entertainment, it will also provide me with fresh, home-grown produce that I won’t need to throw out!
Even though we have just a small step out, the space seems perfect for a little outside garden. I also wanted to have an “indoor garden” by having a few plants and floral arrangements scattered about the living room and dining room. Luckily, that part was easy. On day 17 I just grabbed a few plants for our local nursery and some bouquets from Costco and went to town. It only took about two hours to get the plants situated and the flowers sitting nicely in a crystal vase. The next task, which included planting seeds and actual gardening, was going to be a bit tougher.
Flowers add natural beauty to any home!
Waking up on day 18, I felt motivated and excited to begin my step-out garden. I began the day by buying the necessary “ingredients” for a perfect apartment garden.
4 pots filled with nutrient-rich soil
Seeds [I went with Zucchini, Peas, Peppers and mini Carrots]
+
Water and sunshine!
The utensils needed for a patio/apartment garden are less than those needed for a regular garden, which is both convenient and budget friendly! However, it is very important to do research on your location before you buy seeds so you can see which vegetables or plants grow best in which climate zones. Many fruits and vegetables are very temperamental where they grow while some are not. Make sure to check out when the last frost is scheduled for your area before you try to plant. If you live in DC, visit http://www.dc-urban-gardener-news.com/guide-to-growing-food-in-dc.html, this site has great tips on gardening as well as key information on DC frost zones and what vegetables grow best when. The map below can also give you an idea on lows and frost zones in your area.
How far apart to plant seeds from each other valso aries on the vegetable. It’s important to research this so the plants have plenty of room to grow without overcrowding. [For example, since peppers are larger, each seed needs to be spaced about 18-24 inches apart from each other]. For a great guide on planting and harvesting vegetable gardens [as well as information on how to space each vegetable] visit http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM819.pdf.
Once you have your seeds planted and pots situated outside, it’s important to remember to water the containers everyday. For many vegetables, the time it takes them to grow from seed to fruit differs, so be sure to write down the normal growing period for your fruit or vegetable so you can check on their status as that day arrives. [My zucchini will be full-grown in about 55 days from March 19th, 65 days for my carrots, 55 days for peas and 60 days for my peppers!]
There is nothing healthier [what’s more natural than right outside your window!] or more cost efficient than growing your own produce. So if you are like me and need something new to occupy your time this spring, try your hand at gardening! You’ll be surprised at how fun [and rewarding] it is to start your own produce section!
[Pictures will be posted soon of my little sprouting garden!]
For more tips on apartment gardening, visit http://www.rentaldecorating.com/gardenpatio.htm
Claire
Tags:apartment gardens, city gardening, DC frost zone, gardening, patio garden, produce, starting a garden
Eat Skinny, Be Skinny: Cranberry, Chicken and Blue Cheese Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup non fat Fage yogurt
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of dried cranberries
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 head lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup mixed baby greens
- 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
- 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Combine yogurt, garlic and oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper and add to the bowl. Place the chicken in a baking dish and cover completely with the yogurt mixture.
- Bake until the chicken is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F, 35 to 45 minutes. Slice the chicken when cool enough to handle.
- Toss lettuce and mixed greens in a bowl. Divide the greens among 4 plates, top with equal portions of the chicken, spoon 2 tablespoons yogurt and blue cheese chunks over each salad and sprinkle with pecans and cranberries.
NOTE: This original recipe is from Eating Well, however, I added and subtracted ingredients to suit my taste.
Updates on my wedding
My fiance and I have had a pretty busy past few days! We were just in Charleston looking at wedding venues and in the course of just three days we chose our venue, set our date and found a photographer! Although great strides are being made, we still have tons to do. But I wanted to let all of you know, my fans, friends and loved ones, of our exciting news.
Date: Friday, March 25, 2011
Place: Charleston, SC [Venue is a secret until you get the invite :)]
Oh, and I finally got my ring!! Pictures below.
Nutrition in the News: School Lunch Bill Inches Closer to Passage
The bill will push schools away from these lunch options…
to options that look more like this, with healthy options from all food groups.
The bill that will bolster the nutritional value in today’s school lunches passed through the floor of the Senate for a final vote on Wednesday. The bill, which will revamp school lunches by offering healthier foods with a higher nutritional value and work to train cafeteria workers, titled the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, would add an additional 4.5 billion dollars over the next 1o years to child-nutrition programs.
Along with providing healthier food, this bill will help to prevent school’s distribution of contaminated foods, which have sickened thousands of children nationwide.
Schools who implement what the bill dictates are also eligible for a financial incentive [about 6 cents per healthy meal they serve.] That 6 cents will add up quickly over the course of the year and will help to fund thousands of schools that are facing more budget cuts in lower socioeconomic areas. Another goal of the bill is to expand the number of students who can get reduced cost lunches. All children in high poverty areas will automatically qualify.
This bill, which has been pushed heavily by first lady Michelle Obama, is exactly what this country needs to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity and childhood hunger. The original Child Nutrition Act, which was passed in 1966, was in serious need of a make-over, which is represented in this bill. Although, like the Health Reform Bill, will be tricky to implement, this bill has potential to change the way children are eating now, which will add years to their lives and give them more of an insight on what they are putting into their bodies.
In college I wrote a paper on school lunches and children and interviewed a few local children about what they eat. One of the children, a heavy boy, mentioned that his mom makes him eat “gross green leafs and broccoli” at dinner and doesn’t allow soda or a lot of junk in the house. So how was he so big? The food he was being served at lunch. He bought his lunch everyday, which consisted of tater tots, greasy pizza, fried chicken and ice cream. Many children are getting the right foods at home, however, are eating only junk at school. This bill, if passed, will help to keep children on the right track, both at home and in school. Although this is not the case for the thousands of children who are fed junk at home, it will give children healthy options for at least one of their meals, which is a step in the right direction.
I think this bill is necessary in today’s climate where the obesity epidemic is continuing to rise and where children are dying before their parents because of obesity-related health risks. Schools need to set an example, both in the classroom and cafeteria, and need to focus on teaching children the fundamentals of nutrition and health.
For links to similar articles, visit http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/03/25/school-lunches-next-up-for-overhaul/, http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Lawmakers-Revamp-School-Lunch-Guidelines-mar-24-2010 and http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-03-24-school-lunch-safety_N.htm
Days 14 and 15: Find the natural cure
I want to first begin this post with this disclaimer: I am in NO WAY advocating that pharmaceuticals are bad and should not be used. Nor am I preaching some voo-doo herbal medicinal practices either. I’m simply just voicing my opinion as it relates to my health.
With that being said, I am going to explain my somewhat dependent relationship with certain head-ache and pain relievers. I’m by no means an obsessive pill popper but I hit the bottle more times that I think is necessary. With every sign of pain or bump and bruise, I’m after the Advil faster than you can say “pill.” I don’t have much of a pain tolerance [I’m a certified WIMP] and get kind of whiney when I’m in the slightest bit of pain. So for my comfort [and the sanity of those around me] I keep myself well stocked on all things Advil, Ibuprofen, Tylenol and Exedrin.
Although I’m no where near a crazed drug addict or OC pill popper, as an inspiring nutritionist and certified health nut, I would like to find a natural cure [if they exist] for the common things that pain me. Natural beats processed any day!
So I did a lot of research on the matter and was excited with how many natural cures I found for the common pains in my life. I also want to credit SELF’s April issue [see page 121] for their detailed article on a similar topic.
Headaches:
I know, pumpkin seeds and trout don’t really go well together, but these two foods are a god send when it comes to migraine and headache relief.
According to SELF magazine, pumpkin seeds are full of magnesium, which helps relax blood vessels. About 50% of people who suffer daily headaches are magnesium-deficient. So grab some of these toasty snacks for less head pain. And no, it doesn’t have to be Halloween to buy pumpkins, stock up on these fruits for added nutritional benefits all year around.
Trout [or any fatty fish], which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, help to lower our body’s production of prostaglandins, which alleviate blood pressure and increase swelling. A higher count of prostaglandins induce migraines and severe head aches. So head to stream and catch some fatty fish for a natural headache cure!
Cramps
Even though all I want when I’m crampy and cranky is a tub of ice cream and pizza, nibbling on some string cheese or edamame will do more to alleviate menstrual cramps than the junk food you normally elevate to. Calcium levels are known to drop before you have your period so drinking milk or eating dairy will keep them in tact.
Edamame, which is a whole source of soy, helps reduce many PMS symptoms, including cramps. According to SELF, the phytoestrogens, aka dietary estrogens found in soy, work with estradiol [sex hormone] to regulate and balance estrogen in our bodies. In lamen’s terms, this super bean works to keep our body balanced and our cramps at ease. [or non existant].
Muscle cramps & muscle soreness
After a super tough workout or a Charley Horse, all I want to do is lay in bed and not move until the pain has subsided. However, studies have shown that those who eat berries [especially tart ones] and sunflower seeds or almonds before they exercise or move have a significantly lower chance or experiencing muscle pain or damage.
The vitamin C found in many berries has been linked to slow wear and tear on our muscles and joints. C also plays an integral role in the creation of collagen, which makes up bones and cartilage. Tart versions of berries also reduce inflammation in muscles so grab a pint of tart cherry juice for less pain and stiffness in your joints!
Sunflower seeds and almonds also work to prevent muscle damage and strain due to their high level of Vitamin E [which is an antioxidant that works to contain free radicals as well as improve immune function and regulate metabolic processes.] This nutrient’s ability to contain the free radicals works to reduce muscle damage, inflammation, broken bones and torn tissue.
Instead of running to the medicine cabinet when these pains start to bother you, hit your fridge for a natural cure 🙂 To be honest, after trying these out, they really did work to help reduce some of my pain. They are not nearly as effective as a drug, but they do work to prevent pain if the right amount is consumed.
Claire
Tags:Advil, eating to prevent pain, nature cure, nature remedy, OC drugs, pain killers
