A Shredding Summary and a New Challenge

When I signed up to complete the 30 Day Shred challenge I didn't exactly commit to it wholeheartedly. I knew that committing to do something 30 days in a row would be difficult, so I gave myself some outs. I set a personal goal to do the Shred at least 4 days a week instead of committing to a straight 30 days. I doubted that I would succeed at completing the challenge, and my altered goal seemed much more do-able with my schedule.

The first two and a half weeks were near-perfect. I was motivated and energized, excited to be doing so well. I shredded 10 out of the first 15 days of the month. But then things started going down hill. In the last half of March my schedule became a bit more hectic and I only shredded 5 of 15 days. Unfortunately, I lived up to my own expectations and failed to complete the challenge (using the official "rules" or my own), and my results reflect that. The changes I can see from the 30 Day Shred Challenge were minimal. I lost 4 pounds and my measurements barely changed. In fact, I think any changes in my measurements were probably due to differences in where I took the measurements rather than actual changes in size.

I'm disappointed in my performance, but I'm not surprised at the results. I have a tendency to give myself too much flexibility when it comes to goal setting. I think this comes from a desire to avoid failure. If my requirements are lax, then I can't fail to reach my goal. If I don't really care about the results, then it doesn't matter so much when I don't see any. But I want to change this. I want to be able to make a commitment to myself and stick with it. I want to be realistic in my goals, but I want to challenge myself, as well. I want to recognize that so long as I make an effort (a REAL effort), I can be satisfied with whatever results I see in the end.

Despite my limited participation in the challenge, I was able to see some clear indicators that I'm stronger and fitter: both the cardio and strength portions of Levels 1 are much easier than they were on March 1st; I've been able to increase the weight I use during most of the strength exercises from 2 lbs. to 5 lbs.; my muscles are a bit more visible; my waist has a bit more definition. While I didn't shed the pounds and inches I was hoping to, these results encourage me to keep trying, to keep challenging myself.

So with that, I'm starting a new personal challenge for the month of April. I am committing to...

• Shred OR 
• Do some other form of moderate cardio exercise for at least 30 minutes OR
• Practice yoga for at least 45 minutes

...on at least 25 of the next 30 days.

It's going to take planning and purposeful dedication, but I want to prove to myself that I can set a goal and achieve it. I can do this. I'm going to have an active April! Anyone want to join me?

Gettin' My Gruve On

I came home from FitBloggin' with some awesome things, but so far my favorite bit of techie swag has been my Gruve. A tiny little gadget that I clip on my waistband every day, it's like a pedometer only oh-so-much cooler.

The Gruve was developed by Muve, Inc., a company co-founded by Mayo Clinic researcher, Dr. James Levine, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Levine and his team of researchers demonstrated that our normal daily activity (or lack thereof) can affect our ability lose and maintain weight, and the Gruve was developed to encourage wearers to increase their NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis). Instead of simply measuring steps like a pedometer, the Gruve measures subtle movements like standing and walking, allowing it to track the calories we burn during normal activities. And while they're not necessarily burning hundreds of calories in an hour, over the course of the day, the calories burned by those movements add up.

As you move throughout the day, the Gruve's "halo" changes colors when pressed, going from red (0-24% of your calorie goal), to orange (25-49%), to yellow (50-74%), to blue (75-99%), and finally to green (100%). Unlike a pedometer, you get real-time reinforcement and motivation for burning more calories. And if you're being sedentary for too long, your Gruve gives you a little electric shock (OK, it's really just a short burst of vibrations) to get you moving again. Talk about a reminder to get off your butt!

I've been wearing my Gruve for a full week now and I've totally seen a difference in how I go about my everyday activity. I've stopped circling parking lots for the closest spot and started seeking out those farthest from the door. I don't mind walking the aisles of the grocery store. I'm walking from office to office at work instead of sending emails or picking up the phone. I've taken to making multiple trips up and down the stairs at home, even if it's unnecessary.

Getting to green has become a fun little game I play with myself. How early can I get to yellow today? How many days in a row can I make it to green? What activities can I do inside my house to burn more calories? Is it possible to pace while doing the dishes? What about folding clothes on the move?

The thing that I love most about Gruve is that, as person who loves graphs and charts, I can see my progress throughout the day, not just with the changing halo colors, but also by synching my Gruve online. I just plug the gadget into the computer and log into my Gruve Dashboard to see my calorie burn so far, over a course of the week, during a specific day or even by the hour.

As I start incorporating more NEAT activity into my days, my Green Goal will increase, so that I'll continue to be challenged as I lose weight. When I'm ready to maintain, I can indicate that in my Gruve Dashboard and my Green Goal will adjust accordingly.

As you can see, I'm a total fan of the Gruve. I've been spreading the word about it since day one. It's perfect for anyone who needs a little extra motivation to add more movement throughout their day. And it's especially perfect for those of us who find ourselves sitting at a desk or in front of a computer most of the day. Speaking of which, there's that buzz. Time to climb the stairs a few times and get my Gruve to green!

Beyond FitBloggin' (Or What I Learned This Weekend)

I wanted to write this post yesterday, but it took me most of the day Sunday to really digest what I learned while I was at FitBloggin' this weekend. Not to mention that I was mentally spent from all the social interaction and networking.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting about the great products I get to try thanks to the FitBloggin' Sponsors and vendors. I'll also write about some of the things I learned during the sessions I attended, including ways to monetize a blog (and why I might want to consider it); options for navigating the path from blog to book; and the importance of evaluating the science behind health and fitness research studies. But the reality is that I learned a lot more about ME than I did about blogging at FitBloggin'10.

I attend writing conferences pretty regularly, but I had never been to a blogging conference before (and now that I have I'm totally kicking myself in the butt for not registering for BlogHer). Being surrounded by so many health and fitness bloggers invigorated me in a way that other conferences never have. Not only do I feel inspired to keep working toward a healthier life, but I also feel inspired as a blogger and writer. Something about FitBloggin' has lit my blogging flame again.

I'd venture to say that the thing that has inspired me most is that I've rediscovered the passion that got me blogging in the first place. I love writing in general, but I particularly love writing about health, fitness and food. (That's how I started, after all.) In trying to follow the advice I read all over the place that blogs should be in a niche rather than general, I tried to separate my interests. Which meant creating multiple blogs and blogging for other people in order to keep my health-and-fitness side happy -- and creating multiple blog personalities in the process. I was taking it to the extreme, and frankly, I couldn't keep up with all the "niche-ing". I started getting frustrated with blogging in general and found myself struggling to keep up with posting on any of the blogs I'd created or started writing for. 

Because of that frustration, I've let some of my extracurricular blogging gigs go and I've been considering merging Writing: My Life with Write Out Loud for a while now. I think that FitBloggin' was the opportunity I needed to really evaluate what I want from blogging and where I want to take my blogs.

All of that being said, while I'll be shifting the focus of this blog a bit, I don't plan to limit myself to posts about how many calories I ate or what I weighed-in at. In fact, I don't really want to blog about those things at all (though I might, occasionally). What I will be writing about is my life and all that it entails: staying healthy while working full time and trying to build a freelance writing and editing business; being creative in the kitchen as well as in my writing; exploring yoga and its benefits; other things that inspire me (or bring me down); and whatever else I might feel passionate about.

I love the community I've built here and I appreciate all the support and encouragement you've given to me over the years (despite my multiple personalities and lack of focus at times). I hope you're open to tagging along during this transition in my blogging life. I'm excited to share this transformation with you!

The Secrets to Success

I've been listening to Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell during my commute this week. If you haven't heard of it, it's about the deeper truth behind why some people are successful and others are not. Gladwell argues that, though we in America like to believe success is dependent on an individual's talent, drive and dedication, there's a lot more that goes into a person's success (or lack thereof).

Using case studies of individuals and groups of people, Gladwell attempts to demonstrate that a person's culture, family history, and even birthday may be just as important to an individual's success as her own abilities. In fact, he goes so far as to argue that if we changed the way we think about success (that the best will rise to the top, no matter what their circumstances), more people would have the opportunity to become successful.

At first, Gladwell's arguments gave me pause. It was depressing to think we might not have control over our own fate. For example, if you are born in December, the chances that you will become a Canadian hockey star are next to zero. The chance occurrence of being born at the end of the year means that no matter how hard you work, how talented you are on the ice, you will never become a professional hockey player. Gladwell explains the reason for this unfair disadvantage in detail, ultimately coming to the conclusion that if scouting efforts in Canada were to occur multiple times per year, instead of just once, kids born in December would have just as much of a chance to become professional hockey players as those born in January or February.

But then Gladwell got to the crux of the matter. Over and over again, he encouraged readers to rethink the secrets of success. Sure, successful people have talent and drive and dedication. But there are plenty of people with talent and drive and dedication that never receive the opportunities necessary to nurture and support that talent. Without those opportunities to practice and pursue their goals, those individuals will never see success.

If we start to approach success as something everyone can achieve with the right supports and resources, and we then start investing in those resources, we could see many more success stories. If we level the playing field, so to speak, all kids could have similar opportunities to succeed in school (or sports or music or whatever it is they are interested in succeeding at), and therefore in future careers and life in general.

According to Gladwell, success doesn't have to be elusive. The only secret to success is being afforded the opportunity to pursue it. And that's an argument I can agree with.

What do you think? Do you feel success is a product solely of talent, hard work and dedication? Or do you think success is a product of chance, the result of lucky breaks?

I'm Shredding, and I Don't Mean Paper

Last week I mentioned that I entered to win a 30 Day Shred exercise DVD. If you didn't catch my update, I actually won the thing. I was so excited that when the video arrived last Friday, I tore off the cellophane and slipped the DVD into my player in preparation for a Saturday morning workout.

I got up at 7 AM the next day (What? I'm a morning person.) and promptly got to shredding. The video has three levels and at first I thought I'd just shoot straight to Level 3. It couldn't be that hard, right? I decided I should probably start with Level 1, though, and I'm glad I did. The 30 Day Shred kicked my @&&, people!

I was limping down the stairs on Sunday. But that didn't stop me from doing the Shred. And I even joined the 30 Day Shred Challenge over at Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, so I shredded again on Monday when I got home from work. I skipped Tuesday in favor of an hour-long yoga class, and then missed shredding again on Wednesday because I was feeling under the weather. But I was back at it bright and early on Thursday morning and again on Friday morning, even though I was taking another hour-long yoga class later that day.

I haven't been this excited about working out in a long time. As far as exercise videos go, this one really isn't anything special. But the moves are tough enough that I feel challenged, and the circuits give me enough variety that the 25 minutes goes by quickly. I'm sweating buckets and my muscles are screaming by the time it's over -- all clear indications that I'm getting a good workout.

This morning I gave Level 2 a try because I was a little bored with Level 1 (NOT because I had mastered it and didn't feel challenged anymore). Level 2 was definitely harder, especially on my weak shoulder muscles. But I can't say it wasn't any harder than Level 1 was the first time I tried it.

If you're looking for a new and challenging workout, I'd highly recommend you give the 30 Day Shred a try. Even if you're not much of a Jillian Michaels fan, it's worth it.

Getting Fit (Again)

Back in the day, when I first started blogging, I wrote a lot about my weight loss successes (and struggles) and other topics revolving around my weight (hence the name Weight of My World). When I moved to Blogger and Writing: My Life, I decided to move away from "weight loss blogging" and more toward a general life blog where I could write about whatever struck my fancy in the moment.

I still blogged about health and fitness for other websites. Just not so much here. A big part of the reason for this shift was that my weight loss had stalled, and let's face it, no one wants to blog about their weight gain and failure to work out over and over and over again. Instead I focused on my new house, my writing and reading, what I was cooking, anything but my (lack of a) diet and fitness routine.

While I'm still not blogging about it much, I have been making some small, gradual changes that are heading me back in the direction of a healthy life. Which means you may start hearing more about my pursuit of a healthier, happier me. I'm going to try to be more open about my struggles and my successes. I won't overwhelm you with weight loss talk, but I wanted to warn you of what may be ahead.

This was all prompted by the fact that I'll be attending FitBloggin' 10 here in Baltimore in just a couple of weeks. I thought it would be a great place to connect with other people who enjoy writing about health and fitness, and it's in my hometown so I couldn't possibly pass it up. While there, I hope to get some inspiration from others who blog about healthy eating, exercise, and weight loss and to meet some amazing women (and men) who are making positive changes in their lives every day. I can't wait!

I've got my favorite magazines for the gym, and I'm hoping to win a subscription to Clean Eating over at YumYucky. I logged in to my Spark People account and updated my stats so I can track my food and exercise when I need some extra accountability.

On top of that, I'm considering joining the 30 Day Shred Challenge at Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. (Check out that link and enter to win a copy of the 30 Day Shred video. You can also join in on their Spring Fling Challenge. ***UPDATE: I won!!!! The contest is over.****)

More than anything, I'm looking forward to connecting (or in some cases reconnecting) with people who are traveling this long and winding road with me. It feels better to know that I'm not alone on this journey.

Recipe: Asian Noodle and Shrimp Salad

It may sound odd, but I love to watch Food Network while I'm working out. Last week, I was sweating it out on the elliptical while watching Cooking for Real with Sonny Anderson and she made this great combination of Hawaiian and Asian dishes. As soon as I saw her Asian Noodles I knew I wanted to try making them. On my way home that night I stopped at the grocery store and picked up the ingredients I didn't have on hand.

I made a few tweaks for the purpose of creating a meal rather than a side dish, but the resulting salad was a spicy-sweet, satisfying treat.

Asian Noodle and Shrimp Salad
(Adapted from Sonny Anderson)
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

Dressing:

1 lime, juiced
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1 TBSP honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
4 TBSP cilantro leaves

Salad:

12 oz. cooked shrimp
1 pkg. rice noodles (14 oz)
1 large carrot
1/2 large cucumber
1 large scallion, thinly sliced
3 TBSP dry-roasted peanuts

Instructions

1. Prepare the noodles according to the package directions.

2. While the noodles are cooking, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients in a large bowl. Add the shrimp and toss to coat them. Set aside.

3. Grate the carrot and cucumber. Add them along with the sliced scallion to the bowl with the shrimp and dressing. Toss to coat.

4. When the noodles are done, drain them, rinse them with cold water and then drain them again. Add them to the bowl with the other ingredients, add the peanuts and toss everything together until it's well mixed. Serve and enjoy!

Book Review: Ghosts of War by Ryan Smithson

I just finished Ghosts of War by Ryan Smithson*. (Literally. I just put it down, not an hour ago.) I read it in just a few days, which isn't the norm considering my busy schedule. This book warranted late nights, early mornings, and skipped household chores. That's how good it was.

The memoir of a 19-year-old soldier in Iraq, Ghosts of War wasn't an easy read. There were moments when I wanted to put the story down and let it go. But I kept reading, recognizing that once they enlisted, Smithson and his fellow soldiers had no choice. They lived through those experiences, and if they could do it, I could certainly do it vicariously from the safety of my own home.

Smithson describes heart-wrenching, violent and everyday experiences in a way that even the most isolated and privileged of us can relate to. This book is for anyone who has ever wondered why someone would enlist during war time. ("The Twin Towers didn't fall in Manhattan. They fell on me," Smithson says.) It is for anyone who has ever grumbled, "We shouldn't be over there. We never should have started this war." It is for anyone who has ever thought the only thing happening in Iraq is death and violence.

Smithson recognizes that his tour isn't one that movies will be made from or that will be recounted as one of heroism and honor. He's part of an engineering unit after all, not on the front lines. But he's part of a war, just the same. He risks his life doing every day tasks like going to dinner. He couldn't be further away from his home in New York State.

There's an eight-hour delay between Iraq and the United States. Millions of content American families will be sitting down for dinner eight hours from now. ... They'll be hungry for dinner and for the evening news. They'll be ready for the daily body count, the daily Bush-bashing, the story from Iraq. And that's all it will be to them: a story, a dramatic saga full of twists and turns and epic heroism. It'll be entertainment, the only thing they'll ever learn about the Iraq war.

The experiences Smithson describes take the reader beyond what we see on the evening news to something more concrete. This book is not entertainment. It's an honest, first-hand look at the good and bad of war.

Don't let the only thing you know about the Iraq war be the stories of destruction and death and violence you hear on the news. Sure, those things are important to recognize. They make up much of the war's plot line, but there's rebuilding, generosity, and support, too. In Iraq, as much as there is fighting and killing, there is also hope and faith and love.

If you're an American, Ghosts of War should be required reading.

* In the spirit of full disclosure, you should know that Ryan Smithson is my cousin. I was, however, in no way compensated for this review.

Recipe: Vegetarian Kitchen Sink Stew

OK, so there isn't any kitchen sink in this stick-to-your-ribs vegetarian stew, but that's about the only thing I didn't put in it. This stew made good use of all those vegetables that were hanging around in my crisper drawer, along with some of the leftover beans from the batch I made for my red beans and rice. If you don't have some of the vegetables I used, you could substitute whatever root vegetables you have on hand.

I didn't snap a picture because, honestly, I wasn't expecting it to be blog-worthy. Surprisingly, it turned out to be one of the best vegetarian meals I've made. My carnivorous boyfriend even gave it his seal of approval, saying "That was pretty good considering it didn't have any meat in it."

Vegetarian Kitchen Sink Stew
(Adapted from Vegetarian Times)

Ingredients

2 TBSP olive oil, divided
1/2 large red onion, cut into 1/4" wedges
2 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
4 medium carrots, cut into 1" pieces
4 medium potatoes, cut into 1" pieces
1 large sweet potato, cut into 1" pieces
8 oz. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 dry white wine
1 TBSP soy sauce
1/2 tsp sage
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp savory
1 1/2 cups red beans, drained and rinsed

Instructions

1. Coat the bottom of the crock pot with 1 TBSP of the olive oil. Add the vegetables and toss them to coat with the oil.

2. Add the garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Cover with the broth, wine and soy sauce. Sprinkle with the sage, thyme and savory and then drizzle with the remaining TBSP of olive oil. Do not mix at this point.

3. Cover and cook on Low for 5 to 7 hours. Stir in the beans about 2o minutes before serving.

I cooked the stew long enough that some of the potatoes were very soft and created a thick sauce when I stirred in the beans, which I liked. If your potatoes aren't quite as cooked, the sauce will be thinner, but you could also mash a couple of potato chunks against the side of the pot and stir them into the liquid before serving. I ate the stew with biscuits, but it would also be really good with crusty French or Italian bread.

Learning to Feed Myself

There's a lot to be learned during 10 days in a house by yourself. In my case, there was also a lot to be eaten. It turns out that I eat when I'm feeling lonely. I also eat when I'm bored, tired, disappointed and, sometimes, hungry.

During the first twenty-four hours of feeling lonely and sorry for myself because my boyfriend was snowed-in across town, I ate just about everything I could get my hands on. I baked bread, I got the slow cooker working, and then I munched on everything that wasn't nailed down. I also took the opportunity to spend time doing the things I love but don't often have much time for.

About 36 hours into my home-bound weekend, I started to feel a bit more settled in this state of alone-ness and a little less lonely. I was actually enjoying myself. And immediately, my appetite decreased. For the majority of the following five days, I was able to eat when I was hungry, stop when I was satisfied, and avoid serious munch-attacks.

But what changed? Why was I able to turn off the binge and turn on the self-control?

First, I found myself submersed in things I loved: writing, reading, yoga, even shoveling. I wasn't bored. I wasn't mindlessly eating in front of the TV. I spent much of each day "in the zone", present and focused on whatever I was doing. Even the dishes and laundry didn't seem so bad.

Second, I recognized that just because I was physically alone didn't mean I had to be lonely. It wasn't quite the same as having someone in the room with me, but I made phone calls, visited blogs, sent emails and spent time chatting on Facebook and Twitter. I cuddled with my cat. I journaled.

I found the things that fed my spirit, my mind, and my body and I lived off of them. Instead of eating every half hour out of boredom or frustration, I vented my feelings through writing or a quick Tweet and then went about my business doing something I enjoyed. I met my emotional needs, indulged my creativity, exercised in ways that were appealing and ate when I was hungry.

Don't get me wrong, I still did some emotional eating now and then. Every day wasn't binge-free. But thankfully, my learning out-paced my eating and there is still food left in the pantry.

Recipe: Warming Up with Butternut Squash Risotto

I have to admit that the idea of making risotto has always scared me. I've heard all about how difficult it is, how long it takes, how only the best cooks should even attempt it. But a few months back, I saw a 12-year-old on the Today Show make risotto and claiming it was easy! Easy! Well, I thought, if a 12-year-old can make it, then certainly I can. So I went to the store and got the ingredients for a risotto I'd found searching the internet.

Then I promptly waited a couple of weeks (thank God squash keeps well) to try it. When I finally got up the nerve to make it, I did it in stages. Monday night, I chopped up the squash and onions. Tuesday night, I pulled the rice and stock from the pantry. Finally, on Wednesday I came home straight from work and got busy. In about 45 minutes, I had the most creamy, flavorful meal I'd ever had. And it really wasn't that difficult. (I will admit, though, that I undercooked the rice a bit this first time around. But because it still tasted wonderful, my mistake only encouraged me to give it another try.)

Fast forward to the week of the "snow-pocalypse" and here I am, snowed in with all the ingredients I need and nothing but time on my hands to give this risotto a second go-round. And so I did.

Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto
(Adapted from Martha Rose Shulman)

Ingredients

6 cups stock or broth
2 TBSP olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 small butternut squash (abt. 1 lb), peeled and finely diced
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup cooking sherry
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
1 tsp nutmeg
Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. Bring the stock to a simmer and keep warm throughout the process.

2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook until slightly softened. Add the squash, garlic and salt and stir. Cook until the squash begins to soften, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.

3. Stir in the rice and cook stirring constantly until grains crackle, about 2 or 3 minutes. Add the sherry and stir constantly until almost all the liquid is evaporated. Add 1/2 a cup of the stock, stirring often until it is absorbed.

4. Continue adding the stock 1/2 a cup at a time as it is absorbed, stirring often, until the rice is cooked through (soft but not too mushy).

5. Add a final 1/2 cup of stock along with the Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, parsley and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir for a few seconds until well combined. Serve immediately, garnished with additional parsley sprigs.

This risotto is so rich and satisfying that my mouth is watering just typing this up. I can't wait to dig into the leftovers tonight. If you've been afraid (or just a little hesitant) to try making risotto, give this recipe a try. It's more labor intensive than some meals, but it's well worth the work.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

I've been cooking away over the last few days, partly to pass the time and partly because of this strange nesting urge I've had since the snow started falling. Of all that I've cooked so far, I thought I'd share this recipe because I really enjoyed it and it makes use of my newest favorite (and ever useful) appliance, the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
(Adapted from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker)

Ingredients

1/2 TBSP olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tsp chili powder
3 cups red beans (or two 15.5 oz cans, drained and rinsed)
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1.5 cups water or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cups cooked brown rice

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, pepper and garlic and cook until just softened, about five minutes. Remove from heat and add the tomato paste and chili. Stir to coat the vegetables.

2. Transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker (at least 4-quarts). Add the beans, tomatoes, water and soy sauce. Season with a little slat and freshly ground pepper. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

3. Just before serving stir in the rice (or serve over rice, if preferred).

This was a filling and flavorful meal. The green chilies gave it a little bit of a kick without making it too spicy, but you could use regular diced tomatoes if you prefer less heat. I served it with some fresh baked whole wheat bread, but it would have been delicious with a little crusty french bread or some warm corn bread (thanks to Kat for those suggestions!). And if you're only cooking for one or two people, don't worry, it was even better as leftovers!

What Snowed-in Looks Like

In case you were wondering about our little storm here in Maryland...

It started off slowly on Friday and by 9 PM or so it looked like this:



Just a couple of inches:



Saturday morning it was still snowing and by the time it stopped we had quite the pile of snow. I shoveled out my back walkway late in the afternoon, which took me about 40 minutes. I'm not too tall, and the snow was about to my waist--I'd guess about 3 feet high or so:



Sunday morning I pushed my way out my front door and got to work on my front steps and sidewalk. Thankfully the tree acted as a bit of an umbrella and the snow wasn't nearly as deep as it was in the back. It was still a lot of work though:



I still need to clear off my car and dig it out. Friday night I pulled up the wipers so they wouldn't get frozen to the windshield. If you look closely you can see the tiny tips of them sticking out of the snow:



I'm waiting to dig out my car until later this afternoon or tomorrow morning. My back and arms are a bit achy and I'm still thawing out from my earlier shoveling adventures. I'm also secretly hoping that a little snow fairy will have pity and take care of it for me. I'm not holding my breath, but a girl can dream...

A Snowed-in Weekend

The snow is still coming down and now it's blowing, too. Swirling and floating, coating my windows so that I can barely see what's going on beyond the walls of my house. And honestly? I'm loving it. I'm listening to NPR's Saturday morning programming, drinking coffee spiked with a hot chocolate packet, still in my flannel pajamas.

I don't know if it's the snow falling or the fact that I've got no reason to leave my house (and couldn't even if I wanted to, at this point), but I'm feeling energized and creative. That happens a lot when I know I have essentially unlimited time to write. I get this feeling of electricity running through my body. I'm alert, focused, inspired. I suppose this is how I know writing is what I'm meant to be doing. Writing feeds my soul, makes me feel alive and connected to something bigger than myself.

So while the snow piles up outside, instead of worrying about how long I'll be stuck in my house with no one but my cat and the radio hosts to talk to, I'm grateful for the time alone to create and explore ideas that have been floating around in my mind for weeks without any outlet. I wouldn't be surprised if, come Monday, my wrists are sore and the keys on my keyboard are worn a bit more. In fact, if that's the case, I'll know it was a weekend well spent.

Recipe: Black Bean Chili with a Kick

One of my 101 Things involves choosing and preparing slow cooker meals. An advantage to the slow cooker is that during the week I can do all my prep the evening before and then toss everything together before I head to work in the morning. Or if I'm expecting a busy week, I can put something together over the weekend that will feed me all week long.

I started my slow cooker adventures with that Chipotle Chili I loved so much, and this weekend, I tried another chili that used up things I had in my refrigerator and pantry. It was easy and tasty, and totally vegetarian. I'm looking forward to trying something other than chili in the coming weeks. I've flagged several recipes that look interesting and I'll be sure to post the results as I prepare them.

Spicy Black Bean Chili
(Adapted from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker)

Ingredients

1 TBSP olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed or minced
2 TBSP chili powder (or more to taste)
1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
2 15.5-oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup vegetable (or other) stock
1 4-oz can diced green chiles
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, warm oil over medium heat. Add the onions, peppers, celery, and garlic and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder and stir until well combined.

2. Transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker (4- to 6-quart). Add the remaining ingredients and season with salt and pepper. Stir to mix well. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

This chili came out thick and flavorful after about 7 hours in the slow cooker. I served it with a little shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream on top and had corn bread muffins on the side.

The Big 3-4

I'm writing this post on the eve of my thirty-fourth birthday, though you're likely reading it after the day has arrived.

This birthday is not going down easily. It tastes bitter and acidic.

When I turned 30, I thought I had come to terms with getting older. It wasn't that big of a deal, I thought. Then again, I actually remember 29 being pretty difficult to swallow. Which I suppose is accurate in light of this year's birthday reaction. I seem to be more affected by the year leading up to the "big ones" than I am by the big ones themselves.

It's kind of like being at an amusement park and waiting in line for the scariest ride. The whole time you're in line the anticipation and anxiety builds, your stomach flip-flops, and your palms sweat. Your heart races as they harness you into your seat. The ride starts and you feel light-headed.

But then you laugh.

And scream.

And raise your hands with abandon.

And when it's all over, you say, "Well that wasn't so bad now, was it? It was actually kind of fun." Yet the next time you go to an amusement park and get in line for that ride, your body reacts the same way. Your mind can't override the anxiety with the reality that it's never as bad as we think it will be.

That's where I am now. In line, anticipating the arrival of 35 and all the turbulence, flips, and vertical drops of possible failures, disappointments, and age-related defects that I might experience when I get there.

Let's hope a year from now I can say, "Well that wasn't so bad now, was it?"

Lost: Blogging Mojo

I remember days, back when I first started blogging, that I couldn't wait to write up a post. Everything seemed like perfect blog fodder. I had more post ideas than I knew what to do with.

Over the last year (maybe more), I've found that nothing seems to strike me as interesting enough for a blog post. I've lost my blogging mojo and I can't seem to get it back. Maybe my plate is just too full. Maybe the season is over for this blog. Or maybe I just need to find my blogging groove again. Either way, I appreciate those readers who have stuck with me over the years, who continue to comment and provide encouragement when I need it.

Maybe 2010 will be the year I find my blogging mojo (and my voice) again.

2009 in Review

In reading blogs and talking to friends and family, I'm finding that there's a lot of reflection going on as 2009 comes to a close. That's not unusual, but I haven't really thought much about 2009 and its events and accomplishments. Instead, I've been looking forward to 2010 and setting some very specific goals for realizing my dreams. I don't want to let 2009 go by without taking some time to reflect on what I've accomplished and experienced, though, so I decided to continue the tradition of completing my annual Year-End Meme. (I took the reflection a little further and read through my 2007 and 2008 year-end posts, too.)

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

I traveled to Arizona, a first which provided several other firsts: I saw my first cactus; visited the Grand Canyon, Sedona, the Painted Desert and the Petrified forest, as well as several other interesting places; and I got a tattoo while I was there. I also rode on a motorcycle for the first time, played my first hand of black jack at a casino, saw Niagara Falls and sat in the studio audience of a television show (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon).

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I made some significant progress on my 101 Things in 1001 Days list in 2009. As for 2010, I'm not a resolution maker, but I am setting some serious goals for 2010.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, several friends and family members had babies this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

Canada

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

More freelance clients (and therefore income), more mindfulness, more time practicing yoga, and more time with my sisters and my girlfriends. I miss my girls' nights!

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

November 26th - The first time I hosted Thanksgiving in my house.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

That's a really good question. I'm not feeling really good about my accomplishments in 2009. I feel like I was so busy all year and it went by so fast, but I don't feel like I have much to show for all that busy-ness.

I suppose that completing a book proposal for a client was a pretty big achievement. I'm going to go with that.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not getting myself into a regular exercise routine again.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had an odd rash all over my body that turned out to be a fungal skin infection. Not fun. And don't ask me how I got it because I still have no idea.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A beautiful set of bookends in Arizona and a table and chairs set for my dining room

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I can't think of anyone in particular...

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Same here. (Maybe I'm a bit too self-centered to answer these two questions???)

14. Where did most of your money go?

Into my house, savings account and 401K.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Building my writing and editing business in preparation for full-time freelance.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?

(a) happier; (b) neither...I've managed somehow to maintain my weight this year, although that's not necessarily a good thing; (c) richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Yoga, practicing mindfulness, traveling, submitting my work, and exercising. I could always write and read more, too.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Watching television (yet again this year, although I did manage to go TV-less at least one night a week); thinking I was too busy to enjoy things I love

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I spent most of the day with my dad watching Bones reruns, visited my Grampy in the hospital, then had a lobster and shrimp dinner with my dad. During the week of Christmas I visited with friends and family, laughing, baking and enjoying their company.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

I fell (more) in love with My Love. :)

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Lost

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No. I don't hate.

24. What was the best book you read?

Nonfiction - A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

Fiction - The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I didn't do much musical exploration in 2009...

26. What did you want and get?

More focus on my goals and dreams and a clear plan for getting where I want to go.

27. What did you want and not get?

Central air conditioning, a refinished basement, a new roof and a renovated kitchen

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I can't say I've seen one that absolutely blew me away, but I really liked My Sister's Keeper and I'm looking forward to seeing Sherlock Holmes this week.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 33 and I had a nice dinner at Olive Garden with My Love. I also celebrated a little late when I headed out to Arizona to visit my sister. doing mundane tasks.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

The year went by a little too quickly for my taste, so I think the thing that would have made it more satisfying is if I had slowed down to smell the roses a little more or at least worked on being less busy and more productive.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

I upped the trendiness factor this year by getting some new specs. Other than that, I'd say my fashion concept remained the same: casual yet professional.

32. What kept you sane?

Reading, writing and spending time with family and friends. And plenty of laughter.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Simon Baker

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The health care debate

35. Who did you miss?

The same people I miss every year: friends who live out of state; my sister; my mom and the rest of my family in NY; and even girlfriends in the area that I don't get to see nearly enough.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I met a lot of new people in 2009, especially while I was out in Arizona, but I think I would have to go with the literary agent I met at a writing conference. She's become a friend and valuable resource as I pursue my writing dreams.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

That dreams won't come true if you don't spend time pursuing them.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I can't think of any that apply, honestly.

How do you feel about 2009? Did you do all that you wanted to do? Was it a good year? Are you ready for 2010?

TBR Challenge 2010 - The Do Over

It's time for the TBR (To Be Read) Challenge again. I wasn't very good at reviewing the books I read for the challenge, and I didn't update on my progress much throughout the year, but that's mostly because I was a bit embarrassed by my lack of progress.

I failed to check many books off my TBR List in 2009. Although I did read almost 2 dozen books, the majority of them didn't come from that TBR pile that's been collecting dust. Instead, I was buying books at one of my favorite second-hand bookstores or getting them through paperbackswap.com.

I did manage to read 3 of the 12 books off my main 2009 challenge list and 3 off my alternates list. In addition to my TBR books, I read through a number of books by new or new-to-me authors, did some research for my own writing by reading several best-selling memoirs and essay collections, and learned something new by reading a few business and self-improvement books (one of my favorites was A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink).

Having joined Paperback Swap, my TBR list is growing exponentially. Thankfully, I've been able to share some of the books that I've read but were gathering dust on the shelves in order to make room for new additions. It's hard for me to part with my books, but because bookshelf real estate is extremely valuable in my house, I've had to make some sacrifices. Besides, I love sharing books with friends, so why not share them with strangers who might enjoy them, as well?

Sadly, my TBR List for 2010 looks much like my TBR list for 2009. I'm starting to think that if I haven't read them by now they just might not be catching my interest enough, but I'm going to give it a try again. There is, after all, only so much time in a year--and there are SO many books to read. Even if I keep up my reading pace of 2009 and only read books from my TBR list, I won't make it through all of these titles. I plan to do my best, though.

2010 TBR List

1. I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb


2. The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd


3. A Hand to Guide Me by Denzel Washington


4. Writing Your Life by Lou Willett Stanek


5. Hollywood Worldviews by Brian Godawa


6. Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott


7. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini


8. Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot (Finished 1/17/10)
   


9. Size 14 is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot


10. Big Boned by Meg Cabot


11. American Girls About Town (Finished 2/15/10)


12. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner

Alternates:

1. The Ha-Ha by David King


2. Writing Articles from the Heart by Marjorie Holmes


3. Writing Life Stories by Bill Roorbach


4. Trudy's Promise by Marcia Preston


5. Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult (Finished 1/30/10)


6. The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman


7. The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler


8. The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson


9. Ghosts of War by Ryan Smithson (Finished 2/21/10)
   


10. Lisey's Story by Stephen King


11. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister


12. Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver

I'll try to keep you posted on my progress and let you know if any of these are worth recommending. If you want to join the challenge, visit the official challenge site and sign up. Here's to a year of reading!

Have you read any of these books? Any suggestions on where I should start?

Sarah's Gift

Sarah collapsed back on the bed, exhausted from all the pushing and panting. Finally, she thought, and closed her eyes. Even the high-pitched, frantic sounds of her baby's cries were a relief.

Before the exhaustion could engulf her, the nurse midwife who had held Sarah's right hand through the delivery brought the tiny baby boy to her, wrapped tightly in a soft blanket. As soon as Sarah took him, pulling him to her like a magnet, he stopped crying and relaxed against her chest. She knew exactly what he was feeling--the calm after the storm, the satisfaction of completing a long, arduous journey.

"He's so beautiful, just like you," Steve said, breaking the spell. Still grasping her left hand, he bent over her to first kiss Sam's forehead and then hers. Sarah smiled at Steve and nodded almost imperceptibly. Beautiful...she had never seen beauty like this.

They were a family now. After all their trying and trying, they were finally a family. No more shots and multi-packs of pregnancy tests waiting to be taken. Here Sam was, wrapped up in her arms like a gift she had been anticipating all her life.

And baby makes three...

---

This is my response to the prompt, Wrapped, at Creativity Corner, a new series of creativity prompts at Write Out Loud. If you'd like to join in, write your own response to the prompt and then head over to Write Out Loud and leave a link in the Wrapped comments.