Refrigerator Meal

I have been eating this dish for weeks now, and I am loving how easy and delicious it is! Jake has gotten on board as well...like, I didn't even have to talk it up, he just ate it and liked it. One of the best parts (aside from the good food noises you will make while eating this) is you can throw so many different things into it.


Caution: I love cabbage. I grew up eating it often and love the smell of it cooking. I know many people who are not as keen to it, and even if I don't understand it, I can live with it.



For this meal you will need:

1-2 bags of plain coleslaw
Lean ground turkey (chicken or sausage would be good too)
1 tablespoon olive oil (2 if you are making this two meals and adding more ingredients)
2 cloves of garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste
++Extras++
Shredded carrots

Maybe not the prettiest meal, but one of the tastiest. 

Broccoli-chopped
Onion-chopped
Zucchini-diced
Sweet potato-diced
Rice
Quinoa

I brown the meat first over medium heat, set aside and then saute the cabbage and vegetables in the oil. I love love the way it tastes the longer it all cooks together, but I am in a rush sometimes too. Therefore, cooking times will vary to your personal preference. Once the cabbage has 'wilted' and the veggies are softened, add the meat back in and let simmer a bit longer. 
At this point, if I am adding another starch, like potatoes, I add it now (after already being precooked). Now, literally just throw it all into a big bowl and enjoy.


{{Jake has, a couple times, put this all onto some tortillas for a twist on tacos. I usually eat mine like a cave woman from a bowl...it is that good}}


Total cook time: about 30 minutes (including prep)
Calories: about 390 cals (for one large serving)



This meal is chocked full of healthy veggies, fats, and protein!





XoXo

Warby Parker: 2014 Winter Collection Launch

Accessories can completely make an outfit...they can add that extra dollop of sweetness or chutzpah to your look.

What better way to accomplish this than with sleek eye wear...your face is the first thing people see, and presents your personality {almost} instantly. 

Warby Parker's new Winter Collection does just that.

I am being modest here. If I could type my reactions to gawking through their new items, there would not be space on this page. 

If I was still 13 and did not know that too many exclamation points were childish, I would use all. of. them.

When I was sent the materials and photos for their new collection, I had a November Christmas moment. My husband thought it was just the funniest thing ever, but I unwrapped each zip drive like a mad woman. And, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Serious Face, sauntered over and looked through the pages with me, thoroughly impressed.

Where, how do I even begin?

To 'intro' this piece, here is Warby Parker's own take on their polished new collection...

"The six new rich tones and eight new shapes 

from this year’s Winter Collection will help 

you put your best foot—or face, rather—forward, 

even in the event of a polar vortex. We mixed 

stainless steel with acetate, freshened up 

existing silhouettes with color treatments, 

and renovated classic shapes for unshakably 

confident options with a lot of character.

Available November 4 online and in stores 

and showrooms; starting at $95"

Polished. I have to repeat myself. 
Their vision for these looks is undeniably pristine and yet relaxed. One of my favorites is the 'Keene Beach Glass.' I am a fan of grey, pretty much all shades. I love to decorate with it, wear it, etc. These are so clean and can be easily dress up or paired with a tee and leather jacket for a more casual feel. They are pretty, but precisely understated. 


Another trend seen in their new collection is tortoise, including a 'burnt lemon' take on the pattern. Burnt lemon...that just sounds interesting! And, do not be scared off by yellow, I know I have trouble wearing the color (because of my skin tone and hair color), but it is a soft touch of the hue, just enough to grab your attention, but not overtake the print. 

Glasses are not supposed to cover your face. They have their "necessary" duty, of course...but eye wear should accentuate your natural colors, features, and personal style. Warby Parker does an exceptional job at creating unique and beautiful pieces that do not overpower their proprietor. 

* ***  *******  *** *

To find a complete list and graphics of their Winter Collection click here.

* ***  *******  *** *

One last fun idea...I put together two outfits at the shop (Mosaic) and I think the 'Barkley Antique Shale Fade' sunglasses would be a most stylish asset to these looks. 
  

Thank YOU for taking the time to check out my thoughts on Warby Parker's Winter Collection 2014. I am eager to hear the public reception of the new line. Warby Parker was gracious enough to desire my opinion and words on their creations, and I appreciate that so much. I decided to accept their invitation to write on this because I was truly smitten with their designs and excited attitude.

XoXo

Impatient Patience

Silly title? Maybe...but I am a self-declared and well accepted walking and talking oxymoron.

*I break my foot and then fall again on crutches.

*I tell everyone I am learning patience through all of this, and I am pretty much lying to (the inside of) my face.

*I tell myself I can still do upper body and core workouts, with a super positive and happy voice. Then I do them for the first week, and say, ehhh.

C'mon now. 

My situation is not bad. Not even all that stinky. 

*I have read 3 books. 

*I have watched some sweet movies (yes, I totally will take that as a positive right now).

*I am re-teaching myself the discipline of making my lunches and dinners over quick and easy meals.

*My husband and I are forced to communicate in different ways, as I am pretty much home most of the time (aside from work, and the occasional times I am "allowed" to venture out on my hobble foot).

*My dog is ECSTATIC about this new arrangement of me not leaving her.

As hard or difficult I may think a moment is, it is just that: a moment. 

I have decided to conquer a few health goals at the same time. Not the greatest idea, but like I told a friend the other day, "most of my goals were fitness related before, and now they simply cannot revolve around that."

So, I am trying to do as many (girl) push-ups as I possibly can. But, I am also taking the time to check off a few other things on my list. One of those is, again, making wholesome meals, which is not as hard as I had made it out to be in my head. Another is to decrease the amount of medicine in my body. This is a pretty personal one, so if you have any questions concerning this please do not hesitate to message or email me, I am happy to discuss.

When you make changes for/to your body, it is not going to be easy. 9 times out of 10 it is going to feel like a struggle. But, those 9 times out of 10 are also totally worth it. I am proving to my body that it can heal itself. That I can overcome fears and anxieties that once plagued my everyday.

Broken foot? Yeah, it does suck. I really want to go for a run. Do some squats. Rollerblade. Anything at this point. But, is God telling me to "wait, a minute" and pay attention to some other aspects of my life? You bet.

Now, go on a walk/run for me..mail me the burned calories and I'll see you out there in 6 weeks ;)

Be Mine, Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day darlings! 

No matter how you are spending your day I hope it is sweet in many different ways!

PS: eat some chocolate, it'll taste even more delicious than usual.

Stuck On You

© Kenneth J. Miller

You're sucrose, you're glucose,
You're fructose and more,
From your head to your feet...
Which are stuck to the floor.

You're Hershey's, you're Snickers,
You're sweet English Toffee.
If you spit in my cup,
You'll just sweeten my coffee.

I love you so much
That I'm getting frenetic,
But I can't even kiss you,
'cause I'm diabetic.

XoXoXo 

Breakfast Cupcakes: Part II

I hate throwing food away. My mom always taught me to finish my plate. Now that I am spending "my" own money it hurts to toss food that has spoiled, expired, etc. Especially produce; or things that are expensive (i.e. nuts of any kind).

So, on my day off I decided to create something delicious from some elderly bananas in our fridge ;) 
Viola! 

I also had some pecans and raisins in the pantry that needed some overdue TLC.


Add a few shakes of cinnamon and you have:



Stout Banana Muffins
Makes 12-15 muffins

2-3 overly ripe bananas mashed
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup Stevia brown sugar
1/2 cup Fage Total 0% Greek yogurt
1 egg
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat or oat flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp EACH of baking powder and soda
A couple shakes of salt
A couple handfuls of whole or chopped raw pecans.
Handful of raisins. 

Prepare your muffin pan for the deliciousness that is to come.

Preheat oven to 375. 

Mix above listed ingredients, use your muscles. Flex a little whole lot.

Drop batter into muffin pan and bake for 15-17 minutes.

I kept the recipe pretty simple so that you can have fun with toppings (but they are great alone too). For example: chocolate chips, peanut butter, almond butter, Nutella, Biscoff, or just plain butter- which was my husband's weapon of choice.



Enjoy! I have averaged 2.5 daily. Really, Allison?.. should have doubled the recipe.

Breakfast Cupcakes: Part 1

Muffins. Cute word. But, does it get your family and friends willing to do your dishes for one? Maybe. BUT, say the word "cupcake" and you are bound to have an infestation of hungry bellies.

Today I am going to share my latest "breakfast cupcake" venture: Banana Fudge.

I had sweet little bananas that had seen better days, so I scoured for recipes to turn them into something amazing. I found a few I liked, then changed some details to turn them into what I devoured after dinner last night...and breakfast, this morning.

They are roughly 100 calories, no added sugar (option), fibertastic, and most importantly, delicious!


Banana Bread Double Fudge Muffins: 

1 egg
1/3 cup Fage Total 0% or 2% Greek yogurt
1/4 cup Truvia Brown Sugar Blend or regular brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 medium or large mashed bananas
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or regular WW flour, oat flour, or spelt flour)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cocoa powder (I used regular the first time, but Hershey's Special Dark make them extra yummy)

Optional:

Chocolate chips
Peanut butter

{Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix wet ingredients, then gradually add dry ingredients. Grease muffin pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. Will make 6-8 large to medium sized muffins or double mini-muffins.}


I admit, I topped mine with some peanut butter; Nutella would be awesome too. 

Enjoy!

Diversions

These are some of the things that have been keeping me "busy" while I have been sick:
(Don't judge too harshly with a few of these)...

IIlegal Sprinkles

Oops! I may have prematurely welcomed spring-time back into Mosaic a little soon.
Just as we were entering 'blizzard' territory I was dressing the ladies for a nice walk in the park picking posies.

I actually had to close the shop early that day because of the inclement weather.

Bah.

Nature doesn't have a rule book...why should fashion have such strict seasons?

This is just a little mild taste of what is to come in the shop, hope you enjoy!

Right: Caramel H&M shift dress...80s yellow knit...Zigi Soho sneakers, 70s plastic and metal bangle necklaces, Almay color palette. 















Left: H&M deep teal cotton dress, GAP floral button-down, Steve Madden leather booties, Ulta matte lip color.

I guess I should go make some mojitos, make a fruit salad, or go for a swim.

Please don't ruin my denial. 

Eating the Holidays

How will I eat throughout Christmas and the surrounding days that I consider party of the holiday?

I am going to eat what I want.

I am going to try what I want.

I am going to indulge.

I am going to try my best to NOT reach the point of feeling ill.

If I do not really enjoy something I will NOT continue to eat it.

I will continue to work out.

And, that's it!

Voi-la!

ENJOY yourself; just don't pop and turn into a big Christmas cookie ;)

Merry Christmas and enjoy this blessed time with the people God has placed in your life.

Re-learning the Same Lesson

Cold weather running= it can be a beautiful blessing and a horrible, icy curse. 



This depends on: 

1. Your own personal abilities
2. The right gear
3. Running smart
4. Easy tips and tricks


1- If you know for a fact that when it dips down below 30 degrees your chest becomes inflamed when you run, then take that into consideration. If you have an injury that becomes tight/worse when outside in the cold during exercise, then take that into consideration. If you are coming up with excuses to not run in the cold, take that into consideration.


2- Shoes spikes, face masks, thermal tops/bottoms, fleece zip-ups, tech gloves and thin scarves that are breathable. All of these are some tools that are necessary when running in winter weather. Not every run will you need spikes or face masks, but if there is snow and ice covering more than half of the ground you will be running on then I say wear the spikes...and if the temps start dipping into the low teens/there is a cold wind, the face mask will help protect your skin. (Remember this is small enough you can always take it off, better to bring it than regret not having it 1/2 through your run).


3- Treadmills, dreadmills; however you refer to these machines, they do come in handy for winter running. (Intervals too for us soft centered runners). If it is TOO cold (aka your chest/breathing cannot keep up with your activity) or the ground is too slick to run on, then hop on the treadmill, turn on a podcast and pretend you're running through the Swiss Alps with the Von Trapp family. Be smart, be safe. I learned the hard way that running when it is too icy, without the right gear can very often result in an injury, a bad run, and taking unwanted days off from activity. Don't let your pride get in the way of your fitness :)


4- One little trick I have always done is drinking a mug of coffee before a run. It not only warms me up but it also helps to open up my air passages better [in the cold weather]. Another is my warm-up. I do 10 reps of jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, squats, and arm stretches before I head outside. My body is more prepared for the cold this way.

These may be things you have already read or heard from someone, but reminders aren't a bad thing right? If I start to write about these same things more than 3-4 times, then please say something then. 

Good luck out running old man winter, and run hard, run smart!