ZonePerfect 2014 Blog Forward Challenge Part 2 and Giveaway!

Looking back at the goals I've set for myself on the first part of this challenge, I see that I am still definitely a work in progress.  I need to remind myself that the habits that I wish to change took years to establish and won't be as simple to correct as I would like.

To start, I'd like to share some of the ways I've been moving in the right direction towards the goals I've set for myself:

• Eating Healthy.  Recently, I started a weight loss plan to help keep me on track.  Additionally, I've increased the vegetables in my daily diet, switched to leaner cuts of meat, and even swapped out my usual pasta for a whole grain variety.  I've increased my water intake and cut out a lot of diet sodas each day.  The diet soda isn't something that I've eliminated completely, but I've definitely cut way back!  I've also switched from drinking sweet tea (with lots of sugar!) to unsweetened decaf iced tea. Keeping ZonePerfect Nutrition Bars in my purse help keep me on track when hunger strikes away from home.  Just a few changes here and there have me feeling great!  Keep reading to find out some great swaps you can make to help you eat healthier.  

• Saving Money.  Again, this year, saving money has proven to be more difficult than I had hoped.  Increasing the amount we save per week to $15 has helped, but I have not been able to keep up with the 52 Week Savings Plan as we've had a few weeks here and there where we had some unexpected expenses as well as a few splurges that are out of character for us.  While the unexpected expenses weren't pleasant, it was good to have some extra cash stashed away from the start of the year to fall back on.  The few splurges we treated ourselves to were very much needed to boost our spirits a bit. Having a couple meals out or a few new outfits made us realize how very little we've treated ourselves in the pat few years.  So, that is something we need to be sure to do a little more often in the months to come.  

• Taking Care of Me.  This is another goal that I find difficult to accomplish.  Constantly caring for the rest of the family, I often forget to set time to care for myself each day.  A haircut, trip to the eye doctor, weight loss membership are a few of the ways I've cared for ME so far this year.  Now, If only I would actually follow through and order my new glasses.  I'm also trying to find a therapist in my area (that we can afford) to help me deal with a few issues.  

Now to share points that have could use the most improvement or just have plain been ignored:  

• Becoming Active.  Sports and exercise have never been an interest of mine.  I remember when I was a child, maybe first or second grade, telling the gym teacher that I shouldn't have to participate in gym class that day since it was my birthday.  I'm still full of excuses on why I'd prefer to sit on my butt all day than exercise.  I am supposed to start walking with a neighbor a couple times a week on the nights that Joe is home in time to care for Grace.  I enjoy walking, I just don't like doing it alone.  

• Being a better wife and mother.  I still often find myself feeling like I'm not doing enough for my family or at least having a good attitude around here.  I know that a lot of this stems from both my physical and mental health issues.  I need to continue to work harder in my efforts to care for myself in order to have a better attitude about my life and family.  This is something that is very difficult to admit to so honestly in such a public way.  

ZonePerfect has provided me with some info-graphics to help me make better food choices as I continue with this Blog Forward Challenge.  I'd like you to stay on track with the improvements you are working on when it comes to your family's nutrition.  

Fabulous tips, right?  Some of these swaps have been easier for me, while some of my favorite things I'm less willing to give up or change.  But I know that making even just a few simple swaps is helping me move forward.  Helping me get closer to my nutritional goals.

In addition to providing the information above, ZonePerfect extends the following invitation:

Become A ZonePerfect® VIP & Save up to $10*

Your first coupon will be emailed to you. 

Join Now

  *$10 in savings relates to savings spread across a one year period and may vary.

Finally, thanks to ZonePerfect, one lucky reader will be selected to win a portable charger to help keep you and your devices charged as we continue our way to reaching our goals for the year!  Just enter using the rafflecopter form below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday's Garden Linky Party ~ A Weekly Garden Tour Week #4

Hello!  Welcome to Wednesday's Garden ~ a weekly Linky Party for all posts garden related!  We're still pretty new and want to thank all of you that have been reading and visiting the garden these past few weeks! Hopefully, as we start to get more into the summer, we'll have many more of you join in each week!  I'd also like to thank Garden Matter for sharing their lovely, monochromatic Foraged Centerpiece last week. Stunning in it's natural beauty! 

I'm a bit late posting on this rainy Wednesday.  I was having trouble deciding which photos to share with you this week!  Since I couldn't choose, I decided to post several!  

I love that vibrant greenery in this mixed garden pot.  

Here is Wednesday's porch.  Beyond the porch, you can see the open garden gate. 

Such an inviting feel to her garden.  

Wednesday and her kids created these adorable mosaic pots!  

What a great way to recycle some broken pottery or dishes!  

I also love how she used those outdated country geese as part of her outdoor decor...

they don't seem so outdated any longer! 

These succulents are perfect in this colorful little pot!  

This flower "bed" is a perfect way to hide your central air or even your trash/recycling bins!  

While this bed is just recently planted, by the end of the summer it should be lush and full of color!  

Check out yard sales, second hand shops or even curbside on trash night for inexpensive head/foot boards to create this creative garden!   

Now this is great!  I've seen similar planters created with wooden chairs.  

Often they require power tools to create a hole for the planter.  

This wicker chair had passed it's prime, but Wednesday is getting a bit more life out of it

by adding a planter to the rotted out seat!  

This, I love!  

Wednesday hung an old glass-less window to an ivy covered fence using zip ties, 

creating a perfect spot to sit and relax after a few hours tending her garden!  

Now it's your turn!  I want to see your garden!  Please link up using the linky below....and don't forget to come back next week since we still have more to share!

 I've also shared this week's Wednesday's Garden post with the following blog carnivals and linky parties:

• Show and Tell Friday

Pasta for One: Linguine with Roasted Red Peppers

A couple of weeks ago I decided to join Weight Watcher's Online.  I've been trying to do the whole weight loss thing on my own for a while now and I just haven't had any luck.  Well, really, I haven't had any will-power.  I'd be "good" for a day, then screw up for another couple of weeks before trying again.

Now that I am following a new weight loss plan, it's time to try out some new recipes!  I'm not only looking for meals that are healthy for me, but also ones that are full of flavor and variety to keep me from getting bored and reverting to my bad eating habits.

Last week, I was wanting pasta.  We didn't have lean ground beef in the freezer and I really didn't want pasta with just plain sauce.  Since Joe isn't counting calories and tracking points, nor is he watching his weight (no need to!), I made him a pot of meat sauce to enjoy on his own.  Then I decided to try something new with my pasta.  Since then, I've eaten this meal 3 times!

While this dish is filling, it's also super-delicious!  Like, I could eat several servings at once because it's so good!  To be safe, I only make this recipe in a single serve portion!

Take a look at the bowl in the photo.  This bowl is what I normally use when I eat pasta.  In the past, I would pile that dish overflowing with pasta and meat sauce, just for myself!  Look at what a normal pasta portion looks like in that dish.  Easily 1/4 of what I was eating before!  No need to wonder why I am over weight!

Pasta For One:  Linguine with Roasted Red Peppers 

Ingredients:  

• 2 oz. dry whole grain linguine 
• 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, drained and rinsed
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• Italian Seasoning, to taste
• crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
• 2-3 fresh basil leaves, chopped 
• 1 tsp. olive oil

Directions: 

• Cook pasta according to package directions.  Break in half if desired.  
• While pasta is cooking, heat a couple tablespoons of water in a small pan or skillet.  
• To water, add the roasted red peppers and minced garlic.  Stir while cooking until heated.  
• Add the Italian Seasoning, red pepper flakes and basil leaves and the olive oil.  
• Cook until heated through.  
• Serve over the hot pasta.  

Notes:  

• This is such a quick meal!  So easy and delicious!  
• Using water at the start of the sauce helps reduce the need for extra oil.  I add oil at the end to help me get in my daily healthy oil requirement, but I like that this isn't an overly oily sauce.  
• You could skip cooking the pepper sauce and serve over cold pasta as a pasta salad-like dish.  
• Add more veggies for a fuller meal, I also like this with onions and zucchini added.  
• You could easily double the pasta and divide the sauce into two servings.  

I'm linking this recipe to the following blog carnivals and linky parties: 

• Tasty Tuesday
• Making a Home ~ Homemaking Linky
• Show and Tell Friday
• Weekend Bloggy Reading Link Up

Wednesday's Garden Linky Party ~ A Weekly Garden Tour Week #3

Although, I worked behind the scenes in a flower shop for almost 20 years, I am probably the worst gardener on the planet.  I think this may be a trait that I inherited from from grandmother.  So, every year, I drool over and covet other peoples' gardens.  My cousin, Wednesday, has a beautiful garden that she shares with her family and friends via social media.  Each morning she strolls her garden and snaps some pictures to post on Facebook.  Last summer, I found myself eagerly awaiting her newest photos each day.  I loved watching her garden blossom and flourish.

Today, and every Wednesday through the Spring and Summer, I invite you to visit Wednesday's Garden with me.  Additionally, I will post a linky for anyone that would like to share their garden theme posts for the rest of us to enjoy.

Before I show you this week's photos, I want to thank those that signed up last week!  Mosswood Connections shared some visual processing activities for kiddos, including a Nature Treasure Hunt Mandala.
Jenny Marie's Musings showed us her Basil Pot in her new weekly series, What's Growing on My Patio.

We're a new linky party with a slow start, but I hope that we will have a lot more of you joining in each week as our gardens flourish.

Here are a few photos that Wednesday shared with me this week, I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

How pretty is this vibrant pink geranium?  I know this would make me happy greeting me each morning!

Wednesday captured this neat photo of a fern leaf!

I've heard that succulent plants are pretty easy to grow.  I haven't attempted these yet, but have a few planters that they would look fabulous in!  Wednesday has a few succulent planters that I will share in future installments of Wednesday's Garden.

Gardening can be an expensive hobby, which is partially the reason that I haven't jumped right in with both feet.  Wednesday is an expert at tending a frugal garden.  From purchasing plants on clearance, or even hosting a plant swap each summer, to finding her pots and other garden accessories at yard sales, thrift shop or even curb-side (in the trash!)!

This shabby chic bird cage is Wednesday's latest curb-side find!  Isn't it lovely?!  This would look perfect in my house on my sofa table!  I just love the chippy paint!  I look forward to see how Wednesday will incorporate this into her garden.

Now it's your turn!  I want to see your garden!  Please link up using the linky below....and don't forget to come back next week since we still have more to share!

Local Event ~ Fundraiser Carnival for Salem

Today, you're reading a guest post from my friend Emily.  She's posted here before about her It Works! business, but today she is telling us about a local fundraising event that she is putting together with another mom, for a local girl and her family.

I am helping to organize a fundraiser for a little girl who is in my daughter’s kindergarten class, who is battling a life-threatening brain tumor. I wanted to do something, anything, to help them, as my heart was breaking for them. Another Mom, Kristy Morales, is helping me to organize it, and we decided on a Carnival theme, to make it fun for families and kids, since it is to benefit a child.  

We have planned carnival games, fun foods, balloon animals, face painting, costumed characters, a fun photo booth, raffles, vendors, build a buddy & crafts, chair massages and more! Friday, May 23, 6-9pm in the Calvary Church Gym, 820 Rt 113, Souderton, PA 18964. (entrance #15, facing Rt 113)  

For those unable to attend in person, there will be online sales by some of the vendors, on the face book page (link at bottom of post), and a % of those sales will go to the family.  

Or you can contact me directly to include a donation to the family:

• email
• or call, 215-906-2552

Salem was diagnosed last November with a life threatening brain tumor. She underwent surgery and then heavy chemo, and the family was told that the chance of remission was only around a 30%- 50% at that time. She had to have other surgeries. Salem was out of school for most of November through April, in the hospital or in bed. She suffers nausea, headaches, fatigue, imbalance issues, back pain, difficulty sleeping, double vision, GI issues, hand tremors, and hearing loss, due to the tumor & its treatment. Salem is a triplet, so she has two sisters, and a brother in first grade. The family has dealt with all of this through this winter’s terrible cold and flu season, and massive snow storms (often keeping Salem from being able to see her siblings). Lots of medicine and procedures, long hospital stays, an eye patch and a feeding tube. The chemotherapy was ultimately not successful, and the cancer progressed. The family was talking hospice at that point, and my heart was breaking for them.  

Salem has since undergone a round of radiation, and is currently stabilized. She has been able to come to school some, and the kids are so happy to see her back. The prognosis is not good, but not zero. The family has been scheduled for their Make A Wish trip for the week of our fundraiser, so they regret not being able to actually attend, but we still hope for a good attendance by the community and to raise funds to help with their medical bills and expenses. They hope to know more the week after the fundraiser, when she will have her follow up MRI. They are so thankful to the community for the support, and we hope that everyone continues to offer their prayers and support for Salem and her family.

Please come out and have some fun to help support a local little girl with a big fight! 

Fri, May 23, 6-9pm in the Calvary Church Gym, 820 Rt 113, Souderton, PA. 

For full event details and a list of activities, please check out the event website or the face book event page.

Wednesday's Garden Linky Party ~ A Weekly Garden Tour Week #2

Although, I worked behind the scenes in a flower shop for almost 20 years, I am probably the worst gardener on the planet.  I think this may be a trait that I inherited from from grandmother.  So, every year, I drool over and covet other peoples' gardens.  My cousin, Wednesday, has a beautiful garden that she shares with her family and friends via social media.  Each morning she strolls her garden and snaps some pictures to post on Facebook.  Last summer, I found myself eagerly awaiting her newest photos each day.  I loved watching her garden blossom and flourish.

Today, and every Wednesday through the Spring and Summer, I invite you to visit Wednesday's Garden with me.  Additionally, I will post a linky for anyone that would like to share their garden theme posts for the rest of us to enjoy.

Here are a few photos that Wednesday shared with me this week, I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Beautifully vibrant Asiatic Lilies add a stunning splash of color to the lush greenery throughout the garden.

While I love the bright lilies, the soft hued chives add a subtle touch of color to the brick walkway adorned with plastic and terra cotta pots.

In addition to plants, Wednesday likes to add a bit of whimsy to her garden with some novelty items either store bought or created by her children or herself.

In the weeks to come, I am sure we will see a few more frogs (or are they toads?) like the one perched on the pillar above!

Inspired by Pinterest (of course), Wednesday and her kids created the cute toadstool above using an old bowl and some paint.  This is the perfect way to add some fun to the garden while camouflaging a stump.  I think this would be a cute cover for the top of our well head that is near the front entrance to my house and I have the perfect bowls just waiting for this project!

Now it's your turn!  I want to see your garden!  Please link up using the linky below....and don't forget to come back next week since we still have more to share!

Creating a Window Sill Herb Garden Using Mason Jars

I told you before that I am the worst gardener on the planet.  I somehow manage to kill everything.  The herb garden we planted outside last summer was no exception.  Between the hot, hot sun and the flooding downpours of rain, my little garden didn't stand a chance...and having me as the gardener wasn't any help for the poor plants.

For dinner one night this week, I am planning to make One Pot Spaghetti so I needed to pick up some fresh basil since we haven't picked up plants for our vegetable and herb gardens.  While at the market, I grabbed 2 bundles of basil.  One for myself and one for my mom.

I was in a hurry and didn't read the package, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that what I thought was simply a bunch of cut basil actually turned out to be a live plant with roots and an ice cube sized mound of dirt.  Following the directions on the bag, I filled a vase or cup-in my case a mason jar- with an inch of water and the plant. I then placed it in a sunny window.  I chose to place it on the windowsill next to our kitchen table as the window near my kitchen sink tends to get a bit cluttered.

The jar pictured above is my mom's, I didn't take a picture of mine yet.  I love how simple and pretty it looks in the window and can't wait to get back to the store to pick up a few more herb plants to add to my simple little herb garden.  I sure hope that they can survive my black thumb!


I'm sharing this post with the following blog carnivals and linky parties:

• Making a Home 
• Wednesday's Garden, Week #2
• Homemaking Link-Up!  
• Inspire Me Wednesday

Ham & Broccoli Pot Pie Filling

Please join me every Wednesday through the Spring and Summer months for a Garden Tour Linky Party that I like to call Wednesday's Garden.  I'd love to see all of your garden themed blog posts!

For Easter, Joe cooked us a very large spiral ham.  I don't remember the weight, but I do know it was too large for just the three of us...actually, just the two of us, since Grace doesn't eat ham.  After dinner was done, we were left with a lot of leftovers, which was totally fine with me!

The two nights following Easter, we had a repeat of Easter dinner:  Spiral Ham served with asparagus and twice baked potatoes.  Mm!  Another night, I prepared breakfast for dinner:  Ham, potatoes, asparagus and eggs all in one skillet.  It wasn't pretty so I didn't get a photo, but it sure was tasty!

Even with those meals, plus Joe grabbing a ham sandwich here and there, we still had enough ham leftover to make another meal.  So I decided to make a ham pot pie...or rather, a pot pie filling since I started dinner a bit too late.  Instead, Joe ladled his filling over some canned biscuits while I preferred to just dip my biscuits into my bowl.  Either way, the meal was a success and I can't wait to make it again!

For this dish, I used my usual go-to pot pie recipe, used ham for the meat and added some frozen broccoli.  So delicious!

Ham & Broccoli Pot Pie Filling 
      adapted from:  Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:  

• 3/4 cup celery, chopped 
• 3/4 cup onion, diced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 4 Tbs. water
• 3 medium potatoes, diced
• 2 cups, frozen broccoli, thawed
• 2 cups spiral ham, or other leftover ham, diced 
• 1/3 cup butter 
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk 
• salt & pepper, to taste 

Directions: 

• In a large sauce pan, cook potatoes in water until tender.  
• While potatoes are cooking, add 4 Tbs water to a skillet with the celery, onion and carrots.  Cook, while stirring often until veggies are tender.  Add additional water if needed.  
• To the skillet of vegetables, add the butter.  Heat until melted.  
• Stir in flour, milk and broth.  Cook until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly.  
• Season with salt and pepper.  
• Drain potatoes, then add the potatoes, broccoli and ham to the sauce.  Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until completely heated through.  
• At this point, you can transfer this to an oven-safe casserole dish and top with your favorite pot pie crust, then bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until crust is golden brown.  OR, you can make things easy for yourself and just serve over toast points or with biscuits.  

I've shared this recipe at the following blog carnivals and linky parties:  

• Homemaking Party
• Full Plate Thursday
• Making a Home
• Tasty Tuesday

Wednesday's Garden ~ A Weekly Garden Tour ~ Week #1

Although, I worked behind the scenes in a flower shop for almost 20 years, I am probably the worst gardener on the planet.  I think this may be a trait that I inherited from from grandmother.  So, every year, I drool over and covet other peoples' gardens.  My cousin, Wednesday, has a beautiful garden that she shares with her family and friends via social media.  Each morning she strolls her garden and snaps some pictures to post on Facebook.  Last summer, I found myself eagerly awaiting her newest photos each day.  I loved watching her garden blossom and flourish.

Today, and every Wednesday through the Spring and Summer, I invite you to visit Wednesday's Garden with me.  Additionally, I will post a linky for anyone that would like to share their garden theme posts for the rest of us to enjoy.


Aren't these rain boot planters so cute?!  Almost everyone that knows me, knows that I love shoes!  That most definitely includes rain boots!  Although I don't own a pair personally, Grace has had several pair over the course of the past 5 years!  I'm totally kicking myself for selling them in my yard sale group!

Wednesday created these adorable planters using her kids' outgrown rain boots.  She added rocks and leaves in the bottom before adding her soil and plants.  While the plants are still small this early in the season, soon the boots above will be bursting with brightly colored Zinnia...my favorite!

Below, are some alternate views of the mates to the boots on the fence:

If you're like me and you don't have rain boots, check out your local goodwill or thrift shops!  Wednesday didn't have enough boots for her project and picked up an extra pair for two bucks!  (That's just a dollar per planter!)

Now it's your turn!  Please link up your garden post!  If your garden isn't started yet, share something from last year's garden!  Just be sure to include a link back to this post so that others can join in on the garden tour!