Mondays in May: Get Moving!

May 4, 2015May 5, 2015 | Megan

One part of my life that I haven’t touched on a lot here on the blog is my love of a good workout. I have wanted to do another set of content specific posts since we wrapped up the White Shirt Files in February. So I am dubbing all Monday posts this May GET MOVING MONDAYS!

I go through a workout doldrum about this time every year. For me, I don’t struggle to go to workout or eat right during the winter months. I don’t have a hard time eating a balanced diet during the major food Holidays of November and December. Instead, I feel as though I can steam through Thanksgiving, eat a delicious meal and stay on the clean eating wagon. I can eat a sweet here or there over Christmas, and still maintain a healthy weight and good attitude about hitting the gym.

For me the problem actually occurs AFTER the huge “return to the gym” movement of New Year’s Resolutioners in January. Around the beginning of February I am often so over winter. I’m tired of the darkness, the cold, and dragging myself out in said frigid conditions to get a good workout in (yes, even if this is only to jump in the car and head to the gym!).

I start to want to eat everything in sight! I don’t lean one way or the other in the carb vs. protein struggle. While I really like breads and pastas, I eat them in moderation and enjoy normal portions without trouble. But come February/March I start to want to pound a loaf of bread by myself in one sitting. I look at salads with disdain. I don’t do a great job of making sure I am adding veggies and fruits to every meal.

My morning breakfast of two eggs with salsa and wilted spinach devolves into two or three pieces of toast with bread and chocolate milk. Ask my trainer, she’s already informed me MANY times that this sort of meal is not only high in carbohydrates, it’s also super nutrient deficient.

Right about NOW I need a reset. I need a reason to propel me back to the gym. It is usually the start of Spring and the promise of a new outdoor cycling season that get me amped up to return to a more regular workout schedule.

I look to music, and enjoyable classes, and outdoor road rides with awesome friends to get me back into shape after my poor eating choices come end of winter.

The Fatboy Slim remix of the Beastie Boys song Body Movin’ (though one of the weirdest music videos EVER) always keeps me in the right mindset for a great workout!

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I have some major foot and ankle issues. I’m sure I’ll write about them at some point here. But for now I’ll share that where I used to be an avid runner. Taking my boys out for a run nearly EVERY DAY is now a thing of the past as I have had to shift gears in my 30s. Cycling, both indoor and outdoors has become my go-to cardio workout of choice.

Cycling is low impact, uses most of your major muscle groups, and is a great way to shape up.

Have you fallen into a workout rut? Are you trying to shake some winter weight that has been haunting your hips? Are you looking for more energy, better sleep patterns, and a transference of strength into everyday activities?

All I have to say to you is GET MOVING! It does not matter what mode or manner you choose. It does not matter if you are a walker, a runner, or a roller bladder. You do not need to devote inordinate amounts of time to each and every workout. But what you do need to do is get out there, get off of your proverbial couch, and get moving every. single. day.

Below is an example of an indoor cycling profile you can try in the gym, on the road, or in the comfort of your own home if you have a bike trainer or a stationary bike at home. Check it out and tell me what you think!

3 Minute Movers

Warm-up:

3 minute stretch

5 minute warm-up

3 minute pick-ups (30 seconds sprit, 30 second recovery, done 3 times)

Here comes the meat of the workout:

Pick a gear that mimics a flat on an outdoor cycling ride. (Just make sure that you aren’t free wheeling it, or have absolutely no gear on at all.

3 minute run on a flat. (Try to get a handle on a quick cadence. One that will keep your heart pumping and your legs moving.)

3 minute mid-hill climb. (Pick a medium gear on your bicycle. You can pretend that you are gaining elevation outside, just makes sure you don’t have too much gear here because your big hill comes next!)

3 minute HEAVY climb. (Pick a gear that feels almost like molasses. Your cadence will/should decrease dramatically here. You should feel as though you are pushing up a gnarly climb outside. Stay strong. Come in and out of the saddle as you see fit.)

3 minute pick-ups. (After your heavy hill, drop your gear back down to a flat. You should take a 30 second recovery. After 30 seconds, see if you can do a pick-up or a sprint for 30 seconds. Do 30 seconds on, 30 seconds recover 3 times.)

REPEAT!

You can repeat this 12 minute interval 2 or 3 times depending on the length of your workout.

Get out there and get your body movin’! Have a fabulous Monday!

XX, Megan

Color: Spectrum Science

May 1, 2015April 30, 2015 | Megan

Look at these two awesome little creators about to get their color on. The sunglasses were upon request. “It is toooooooo BRIGHT to look at you!” And don’t worry. Mr. M switched his out for red later on because he can.

Today we’re talking about the COLOR spectrum on our Science Friday post. Thanks to our awesome Kiwi Crate subscription.

A COLOR spectrum (the following is the unscientific definition) is a band of color like you would see in a rainbow. This spectrum is produced when light is broken into its composite colors according to the different degrees of refraction. Kiwi Crate put together an awesome project to TEST the color spectrum of some of the color.

We set out to find out what colors blue, orange, gray, green, and brown looked like when broken into their spectral parts! Come along and check it out!

First, as always, we gathered our supplies. Of course with Kiwi Crate this is a cinch! Everything came in our crate but the WATER!

Mr. M is holding 5 cups to hold the water, a pack of parchment paper rectangles, a set of markers, a length of rope, a packet of clothespins. These last two items aren’t part of the experiment. They will be used to beautifully display your findings!

Second, we lay out the hand-dandy “mess mats” Kiwi Crate included and got to work. We filled each cup with water. Each child got five parchment rectangle. We folded each rectangle in half and colored a thick, bold strip of color right next to the fold in the middle of the paper.

Then we put one end of the paper into the water. Allowing the colored section to hang out.

Third, we waited for the magic to happen. This took a minute or more. So it felt like we waited for a long, long time ;).

Fourth, we talked about the colors we saw that were “appearing” as the original color we had markered on met up with the water. Then we circled the colors on the spectrum that we saw.

Fifth, we tied our ropes together, and strung them along the porch. The kids helped to carry the pieces of paper over and we carefully attached them with the clothespins to the rope.

Sixth, we have now dubbed our home The Rainbow Palace. Said with a bright, shiny, mystical voice. The Rainbow Palace! Have a totally awesome Friday!

XX, Megan

P.S. Kiwi Crate is geared for kids ages 4-8. If you happen to have older kids, you should also check out Kiwi Crate’s NEW line of crates for older children. Tinker Crate, and Doodle Crate. If you happen to have younger kids, check out Koala Crate! This post is not sponsored or in partnership with Kiwi Crate. We simply love the product! Thanks!

Mango and Thai Beef Salad

April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 | Megan

I literally JUST finished eating this salad (last night) and it was such a delight! I also just finished eating this salad, started my post about its deliciousness, and was on the phone with my sister who proceeded to inform me that she has already made and eaten this salad FOUR times. That’s right. 4 Xs. It’s that good.

I, too, will follow suite and be repeating this recipe many, many, many more times this summer! What is the pop? The pizzaz? The secret YUM? For me it’s the lime, mango, cilantro/basil combo that I find almost irresistible. Such spark! Such snap! Try it for yourself, from The Scramble*.

Wonderful Wednesday, to you all!

XX, Megan

Ingredients for main dish
2 limes, juice only, 1/4 cup
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
4 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp. peanut or vegetable oil
1 lb. top sirloin steak,or use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or meatless chicken or steak strips
2 scallions, thinly sliced
2 cups shredded or matchstick cut carrots
1/2 cup fresh cilantro or basil, chopped
1 mango, peeled and diced
8 oz. mixed greens

Mix

First mix the lime juice, soy sauce, oil, and brown sugar in a small bowl. (1/2 of the marinade will be used for the steak, the other half will be reserved for dressing the salad!)

Marinate

Place the steak in a shallow container. Pour half of the marinade over the steak. Turning the steak to coat. Set aside to marinate. (Alternatively you can marinate the steak up to 24 hours in advance.)

Chop

Chop the scallions, mango, cilantro, and combine with the carrots and greens in a serving bowl.

Cook

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet and add the steak. Cook the steak 3-4 minutes each side, or to your desired doneness. Discard the excess marinade.

Slice

Transfer the steak to a cutting board. Allow it to cool slightly. Slice it into 1/2 inch wide strips, lengthwise.

Serve

Serve the greens topped with the steak. Don’t forget your reserved dressing! (Or an extra squeeze of lime if you really want to go overboard! 🙂

EAT!

Marinate

Chop

Cook

Slice, Serve, EAT!

*The Scramble is a meal planning service to which you can subscribe here. For a fantastic price you will receive 5 weekly meals which means 5 recipes (main course plus a side dish), complete grocery list, the ability to tweak the number of people you are making for, and full nutrition facts. PLUS tips as to how best to PREP your meal beforehand, add a punch of FLAVOR, and how to SLOW COOK almost every recipe if you’re especially slammed that night. This wonderful service really does live up to it’s name. You can come home at 6 p.m. and be sitting down to a DELICIOUS, HEALTHY, HOME COOKED meal by 6:30 p.m. most nights.

You Can’t, You Can’t.. YOU CAN!

April 27, 2015April 27, 2015 | Megan

I discussed this a little bit in my post “Visions of Style: How Fashion Works”. But I wanted to expand on the idea that you should seek to find the things you love to wear. Wear them. And make it a point to not let anyone tell you differently or dissuade you from your display.

I really believe that style is the expression of your self through dress. Inherently, YOUR style should make YOU happy. Furthermore, I don’t believe that these expressions have a time stamp or an astronomical price tag on them!

However, not everyone sees style as simply self expression. Not everyone celebrates style as a personal statement to the world. In fact, with shows like Fashion Police, What Not to Wear, and Love, Lust, or Run with Stacy London, it is obvious that there is a such a thing as “mainstream” style or “acceptable” fashion.

I understand that there are fashion do’s and don’ts, and that learning to dress your body appropriately in terms of cut, proportion, and color can really amp up your everyday personal look. I get that. I do have personal preferences about my own style choices. Guess what, there are some things that I can safely say that I would NEVER wear. NEVER. There are also trends and fads that I simply refuse to try or fall victim to. But there is another side of this fashion YES and fashion NO world that I don’t subscribe to!

I certainly do not subscribe to limiting yourself to NO lists or age specific styles. Here’s the thing, if you happen to know me personally, then you probably already know that I don’t really like being told I can’t do something. Nope. No, is not a word I like very much. Cannot and should not are verbs I don’t appreciate.

So perusing the internet as I am wont to do, I came across an article that I knew I’d have to have a conversation about at some point. NOW is that point. The article is titled “24 Things Women Should Stop Wearing After 30”. That link is live, so you can read the post for yourself.

The truth is that I some of the things listed I can say, “Yep, you’re right. I don’t think that a woman over thirty should be wearing Victoria Secret Pink.” But scrolling down, I was aghast at the fact that the list included things like STOP wearing animal prints after 30, and STOP wearing oversized glasses over 30, and STOP wearing hoop earrings after 30.

But when I started to evaluate the way that I chose to approach this list, I realized that maybe I was simply practicing personal preference and in the direction of my style discriminations. In other words, if I felt that leopard print was COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE after 30, I felt justified because of my personal assurance in my OWN SYTLE. However, I agreed with the advice to stop wearing Victoria Secret Pink because I don’t really like Victoria Secret Pink.

I was willing to discriminate if I found the item or action to be something I would want others to STOP. But if I was going to say that I didn’t think the list had merit, I’d have to reevaluate my ideas of what I really found acceptable or reprehensible in terms of fashion and style over 30.

My newest pair of kicks, for example (pictured below). Some people would find these absolutely BLAH! Maybe even hideous. A style DON’T for sure!

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In my book they are the bomb-diggity. But here’s the thing, who cares? Let’s not style ourselves into lists. Let’s style our selves for our LIVES! Let’s live and laugh and have a ball as we engage in the interactive joys of dressing!

If you are a 30 something mama who wants to throw on that V.S. Pink sweatshirt and head to the gym, what is wrong with that? Sure I, for myself, don’t love the brand, the image, the idea. But if you feel sexy, and happy, and fun in your gym wear. If you can tastefully execute your PINK, WHY NOT?

While I absolutely LOATH platform flip-flops, why should that matter to you? Maybe you love the added hight with the extra comfort of a flat-form. Maybe you wear your favorite pair to give you enough lift to rock your uber long flared pants. Maybe you wore them in the 90s and loved them with all of your heart and simply don’t want to give them up! Go YOU!

It’s true. I do practice discrimination in other areas of fashion such as age. Moderation and modesty, I say. I do take issue with an over-30 wearing Victoria Secret Pink booty shorts to my son’s soccer game. I think dressing in that way says nothing about style or fashion. It just says trashy, unkempt, and inappropriate for a public event. So there’s that.

I think the reason I took such issue with this LIST is that I have always wanted to be the lady that was rocking a leopard pencil skirt when I’m 70. If you think this is outlandish, absurd, over-the-top. That’s fine! You can perm your hair, stop wearing color altogether, get hooked up with some of those awesomely thick soled corrective shoes, and start to hunch before you have even a hint of osteoporosis, go after it! (Let me also say that this is not a dis on corrective footwear. I have A LOT of foot and ankle issues. Bless Birkenstocks, is all I have to say!)

If you think I am alone in my hankering toward pizazz as an octogenarian, please check out ADVANCED STYLE. Heck, if you don’t have or want anything TO DO with fashion or style and just want to smile, feel some good outfit vibes, and check out some seriously beautiful, seriously old people. Check out ADVANCED STYLE. There’s also a DOCUMENTARY (this is the trailer), and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that as well!

I mean, do you see those ladies! They are rich! (And I don’t mean wealthy.) They are fresh! Unique! Vibrant! Glowing! What fun! Yes this bunch look particularly eccentric and self-made. Yes, they are bright and brazen and fear-less. To see a more subdued vision of Advanced Style click through on the video embedded below (below the picture of Ignacio Quiles.)

This notion does not simply apply to women. I hope that you men find just as much enjoyment in wearing your wardrobe. In fact, sometimes, I think that age gives one extra impetus to shun the crowd and wear what your heart desires. My husband and I recently discussed the fact that we believe that age actually gives the wearer even more opportunity, openness, free-range.

He said, “If I see a 67-year-old man wearing a deep purple suit, I don’t question his style or fashion choice. I feel as though he’s earned it. But if I see that same suit on a 20-something, I’m not gonna lie, I think he’s trying too hard.” In the words of Ignacio Quiles, from the scroll of Advanced Style, “Enjoy what you wear and wear what you enjoy and go out and show the world.”

What about this beautiful creature? So self-assured. So self-possessed. So stylish and fashionable. The scene below is actually part of a hearing aid campaign and advertisement, Advanced Style X Audacious.

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I’d love to hear what you think of the “Can’t or Can Wear After 30 List” (there are many (love this one), many, many, many, men check this one out, more of them online). Are there items on these lists you absolutely agree with? Are there items on the list you still love to rock? Are there things on the list you might consider incorporating into your current wardrobe? Who are some of your fashion and style icons? Are any of them elderly? As always, I love your comments and discussion. I hope your Monday has been worth living, and that Tuesday greets you with sunshine, energy, and kindness.

XX, Megan

Just one more, please. Oh, Iris, I adore you!

Carla’s To-Die For Chocolate Chip Cookies

April 22, 2015February 24, 2016 | Megan

Not too long ago, inside our little home in our little mountain hamlet, it was April. But it looked like THIS (above) outside. Yes, snow. This should no longer be a Spring surprise to mountain dwellers, right? But sometimes, I am still surprised. Wait. That robin I heard chirping his sweet song this morning? Wait. Those full bloomed tulips in my neighbors flower bed? Wait. Those greening buds and blueing skies?

Well, it’s Spring, not paradise, folks. So in this state of blear and drear I hatched a plan. (This plan may have also been formulated by the fact that I had to go to the dentist that day as well, and what better way to cap off a trip to the dentist than with sweets? Right? Anybody?)

I quickly cemented in my mind a desire to make chocolate chip cookies (I just can’t seem to stop with the dental puns here, sorry :). I was’t after just ANY chocolate chip cookie. I had a certain genus in mind. You see I live next to a baking goddess named Carla. I hope that Carla doesn’t cringe when she reads that line. (I don’t know why she would, the title is TRUE. But I hope she doesn’t get embarrassed because it’s the inter web.)

Anyway, Carla was called to this life to start a bake shop, but that business is hard and hot and doesn’t appear to always have the financial meat that a family in today’s world is looking for, and my friend chose a successful career in finance. Banking rather baking. Go figure.

Well, this is to the loss of the entire WORLD, because her BAKING is incredible. These chocolate chip cookies I’m about to paste down are THE BEST! Truly, the best in their class. Holy cow. Hold on to your gluten, cause they are going to knock your socks clean off!! 🙂 (Thank you, Carla, for letting me have the recipe and publish to high heaven!)

Here’s the thing. The recipe is SIMPLE. I’m talking simple! But the miracle in your mouth doesn’t taste that way at all! They are everything I look for in a cookie. Just chewy enough on the inside. Just crispy enough on the outside. Just enough chocolate chips. Just enough sweet to the salt. Just… PERFECT!

I cannot wait to hear how yours turn out! PM me. Comment here. FaceBook your results. Instagram your pics. Cause you’re gonna be happy you made these babies! Recipe below followed by picture steps. Please be sure not forget step 7 and step 8. Have a great day!

XX, Megan

The recipe is as follows:

1 C Butter Flavored Shortening
3/4 C White Sugar
3/4 C Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Salt
1tsp Baking Soda
2 1/4 C Flour
1 Package of Chocolate Chips

Cream shortening, white sugar, and brown sugar with a beater. Then add one egg at a time and beat the dough untill it’s light and fluffy– no more. Add the dry ingredients. Continue to mix the dough on the lowest setting. Add the flour at the VERY END. Barely incorporate the flour into the dough, until it is just mixed through. Add the chocolate chips. Fold in. Then mix once by hand.

375 for 9 minutes.

1. Cast of Characters.