Project 'Get it Together': My friend, Pinterest

My eating habits are really not bad. But in the summer they tend to slip. And of course around Thanksgiving and Christmas as well - I mean, seriously. Too many temptations!

So after a summer filled with a lot of travel - and a lot of restaurants - and a lot of bakeries - and a good bit of unhealthy eating - we had to do something to jumpstart ourselves back to a healthier diet.

Now when I say diet, I don't mean the dreaded D word where you deprive yourself and are absolutely miserable. No, I am talking about diet as an overall, everyday way of eating.

Southern veggie plate - this is comfort food!

And another thing. Jumpstart is a key word here. For us, it's all or nothing at the beginning. If I want something to stick, I have to be on the verge of overboard, or it will not last.

So here we are. Five+ weeks into the vegetarian diet. And I am feeling really good. REALLY good.

Avocado Toast. One of my new favorites for breakfast. Or lunch.
Okay, anytime.

I'm sure it's a combination of diet and exercise, but it's so nice to have more energy and just feel well overall.

And like I've said before, I am not a vegetarian. This is not an all-in, never eat meat again, total change of lifestyle. No, if the right meal with meat comes along, I will cave. I will eat it. And I will enjoy it.

But for now, it's working. And I think I'll at least attempt continue to stick with meatless meals when possible... as long as I don't get bored.

Yeah, boredom is a dangerous thing for me. If I get bored with something, it won't stick. This has been our experience in the past.

So in order to try and fend that off, I turned to Pinterest.

I really like Pinterest. Now don't get me wrong. I am not crafty. I can't turn mason jars into chandeliers. And I don't collect empty toilet paper rolls and create intricate wall art (and to my sweet friends C&L, I am NOT making fun!).

But when it comes to recipes, I've found some great ones.

I also wrote out a list of more than 60 different vegetarian meal ideas and put it on the refrigerator. It helps to be able to see some options right in front of me. And I think it helps Zack, too.

We haven't repeated meals too often. Well, no more than we did in the past. We still have pizza most Friday nights. My new favorite is Greek pizza, topped with sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, feta cheese, peppers, onions, and olives.

We like to make some type of curry or stir-fry about once a week. It changes based on what vegetables are in the fridge, as well as which spices I choose to use.

And at the boys' requests, we also do Taco Tuesday. But while they typically eat regular taco meat each week, I try to make something a bit different for Zack and me each week. Sometimes it's homemade refried beans. Last week was black beans. Tonight we tried a sweet potato dish that was really good. Some weeks we make a taco meat substitute that includes a mix of diced cauliflower, peppers, garlic, and onions, along with some beans or corn.


If you'd like to check out my Pinterest boards, you can find me as UkieMommy.

And here are a couple of boards that I'm using a lot right now:
Meatless Recipes - some of these we've tried, some we have not
Pinterest Success - this is a variety of recipes (not just vegetarian) and other things that we've tried and really liked

The best laid plans...

I planned to publish the next installment of Project 'Get It Together' today.

But sometimes things don't go as planned.

Sometimes a blueberry smoothie gets spilled on the rug and all over the floor and furniture. Right as you are about to walk out the door to take your kids to school.

Sometimes it rains so much that, after trying to wait it out in the car, you decide to make a run for it... and on your way in you see your neighbor sitting in his car eating his breakfast. Yeah, he was smart. And I was soaked.

Sometimes you have so many things on your To Do list that you aren't sure where to start.

And so, that's a glimpse into my day. And why I didn't get time to write a deep and meaningful post. 

Maybe tomorrow. Or Friday. Or next week.

Kaffetur 21 / Coffee Tour #21: Coffe Baum, Leipzig

Sometimes you visit a place because of good reviews.

And sometimes it's because of a special story.

We read that the oldest coffee house in Europe was in Leipzig, Germany. (I also read that it's only the second oldest. Either way, it's old!)

So when Zack found out he'd have a few hours in between train trips with a friend earlier this year, he decided to check it out.

Coffe Baum began serving in 1694. Yeah, it's been around awhile.

The shop, as it exists today, includes coffee, food, and a museum.

Zack had coffee and a slice of cake. He said he really enjoyed the cake. He and his friend also took a quick walk around the museum, before making their way back to the train station.

Coffee Baum offers something special. Experience. While it probably won't be the best cup of coffee you've ever had, there is something to be said for the historical experience of it all.

Coffe Baum

Kleine Fleischergasse 4

04109 Leipzig

Germany

www.coffe-baum.de

Project 'Get it Together': sweet potato goodness

One of these days, I need to share a little about the sweet girl here in Sandefjord who was our inspiration to try a vegetarian diet. Yeah, I'll put that on my To Do list!

Anyway, skipping meat means seeking out new recipes and new menu ideas. I've been finding some cool - and sometimes outlandish - ideas on Pinterest. And I wanted to share one that Zack and I really enjoyed.

We made these black bean sweet potato nachos for dinner tonight, and they were awesome! I used a low fat white cheese instead of cheddar (after two & a half years, I've learned to substitute and use what I can get!). And I added a little diced onion along with the black beans.

Photo: www.holajalapeno.com 

Here is the link to the recipe from Hola Jalapeño:
http://www.holajalapeno.com/2014/05/sweet-potato-nachos-with-smoked-cheddar.html

Project 'Get it Together'

What motivates you? What gets you up and moving? What pushes you towards change?

For me, it's a number of things.

Sometimes it's simply a change of seasons. That typically means swapping out clothes - which usually leads to a bit of cleaning as well.

Sometimes it's the prompting of a friend. Or a book. Or a documentary. Or some other outside source.

Sometimes it's a number. The bathroom scale. A statistic. A birthday. (40 is just around the corner... and I am not sure how that is even possible.)

When it comes to motivation for change, Zack and I generally have to start big if we want it to really stick.

Right now we find ourselves in a phase of change - or at least an attempt! I've decided to call it Project 'Get It Together'. It is touching on a number of areas of life. The way we eat. Our level of physical activity. My focus on writing. Gearing up for a couple of months in the states late this year. And other things.

So I thought I'd share with you some of the things we are working on, some of the tools we are using, and some of the reasons we feel motivated to 'get it together'...

... Okay, not that we are falling apart or anything like that. But sometimes when I reflect, I see that things have slipped in certain areas of my life, and I want to get back on track...

And that is where we are now.

So here we go - 'Project Get It Together'!

Kaffetur 20 / Coffee Tour #20: My Coffee Story

Why do I do this? Why do I share the coffee tour?

Photo: Brown/Evans 2014

We enjoy visiting coffee shops because we like coffee. But also because we like to hear the stories of the people who work there, of the people who started the shop.

Sometimes it's about their interest in coffee. Sometimes it's stories of the beans, of the farmers, of dreams, of relationships.

I consider myself a bit of a storyteller. And I love hearing stories. That's what this is really about: stories.

And so today, I thought I would share my
own coffee story.

Growing up, my parents never drank coffee. My dad still doesn't drink it, while my mom will have a coffee drink from time to time.

But I vividly remember coffee as a child. When I was small, I spent quite a few of my weekends - possibly the majority of them - with either my grandparents or my great-grandparents. As the oldest of the grandkids and because we lived close by, I found myself there quite often.

I would often sleep over on Friday nights. It was fun to play games and watch TV together. We'd sometimes go out for ice cream in the evening. And when I was with my grandparents, I looked forward to the possibility of staying up with my grandfather and watching the monologue on the Johnny Carson show. I didn't really understand what was so funny. But those few minutes sitting with him were special. I sat there, enjoying the sound of his laughter, and feeling quite grown up.

On Saturday morning, while my grandfather slept in, I would wake fairly early and tiptoe into the living room, where my grandmother would be sitting with her cup of coffee. And as became the norm, she would offer me a cup of my own.

I always accepted the offer. And I enjoyed my little cup of coffee. About 25% coffee, the rest milk, along with a nice big spoon of sugar.

The same happened when staying with my great-grandmother. And again, I always graciously accepted the offer for a cup.

And so began my interest in coffee. A meager start, but that's how it began.

As with most things with which one has interest, my knowledge has increased over the years and my preferences have changed. And yet, almost every time I pick up a cup of coffee, I think back to that little cup: the foundation of my coffee story.

Weird People - hey, that's me!

We often joke in our family that everyone is weird, and life is about finding those who share your same kind of weirdness.

Okay, it's not totally a joke. There is definitely some truth to it.

That brings a Dr. Seuss quote to mind...

So when Zack ran across this the other day, we thought it was fantastic!

I think I've always felt weird. And living cross-culturally probably intensifies those feelings at times, but I digress...

We were having a conversation with a friend and fellow parent recently, talking about how difficult the early teen years can be... and this is true in most any culture. Kids who don't follow the norm or the most common way of living - be it fashion or hobbies, music or interests - those kids often struggle. They may be bullied or they may be ignored. But typically, as they get older, they find others with whom they share interests and dreams. They build up confidence. They find their place.

So if you're feeling weird, know that it's okay. You are making the world a more colorful place. You are creating interest and curiosity. Yes, you may be unique. But no, you are not alone.