About Diana

Spring 13: Progress

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**Every season, I post a set of goals that I set out to accomplish. I track my progress here on my blog. I like the challenge of setting goals – it helps me to accomplish so much more. This post features how I’m doing on my Spring 13 goals**

Smiles Go With Everything - Spring 13

We’re over half-way through Spring now, so it’s about time I catch you up on how I’m doing with my Spring 13 goals. I’m making pretty decent progress overall, although there’s some I haven’t gotten close to yet.

 

1.) Beat Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past –  I haven’t even touched it yet :(  I have trouble making myself do something that I don’t see as “productive”, even though I know that just having fun is good for relieving stress.  That, and I’ve been spending a lot of my free time watching Dr Who on Netflix (I’m slowly catching up – on Season 3 now)

2.) Read The Complete Sherlock Holmes, V 1 – Almost done, just re-reading Hound of the Baskervilles.  God I love Sherlock Holmes.

3.) Spring Clean closet – I’ve cleared out stuff I’m not wearing and have a stack of stuff to take to the tailor, but haven’t yet.  Worked slightly on a gaps list.  Budget is not doing too good right now, so I’m trying to figure out what I can thrift.

4.) Take a restorative yoga class  – I took a Yin Yoga class at a new studio, and honestly, I hated it. The instructor didn’t give any guidance as to how to set up the poses, so I was fidgeting trying to get comfortable the whole time.  I’m going to take a Restorative workshop at my regular studio in the next month or so – I think I’ll be happier with that.

5.) Try spinning on a wheel – haven’t even come close, although I did knit a scarf.

Stopping for the sunset

Stopping for the sunset

6.) Bike on a trail - Done!  See post here.

7.) Do a bento Q & A – Put out a call for questions, taken photos for post.  Just need to actually write said post.  I’m still open for more questions if you’re interested.

8.) Try indoor rock climbing – haven’t done yet.

9.) Write two recipe posts – Wrote my first post: How to Brew Kombucha.  Got photos and text for the second one, Pressure cooked Braised Beef Shanks, just have to type it up and put it together.

10.) Make instruction manual binder – Done!  Made this last weekend while watching multiple episodes of Dr Who.

11.) Play a game of ultimate Frisbee – I actually forgot about this one completely.  Still have to do this.

Growing celery and romaine

Growing celery and romaine

12.) Try a Pinterest gardening tip and document it - In progress!  I’m growing celery and romaine from scraps.  The celery is looking good (it’s much bigger now than in this picture), the romaine, not so much.  Proper post coming soon.

13.) Visit Goodwill Clearance center and re-con something you buy there. - I did in fact, sew a re-con project recently.  I have not ventured to the next county over to see the Goodwill Clearance center yet.

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Bento Box Saturday: 5-11-13

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*Welcome to Bento Box Saturday!  Most Saturdays, I post photos of some of my bento lunches and breakfasts that I’ve made recently.  I use a Laptop Lunches bento box for my lunches and I love it because it helps me to reduce the amount waste I create.  I also love how it makes for perfect portion sizes.  And my lunches look pretty cute too:)  To learn more about how I pack and carry my Laptop Lunches bento, check out this post.  I  use a Lunchbots Trio and Quad for my breakfasts*

4-25-13 Lunch

4-25-13 Lunch, Whole30 friendly

  • Braised beef shanks (recipe coming soon!)
  • Mashed cauliflower (via Practical Paleo)
  • Cucumber and carrot sticks with mayo (via Well Fed)
  • Fresh strawberries

So, this was my first time making mashed cauliflower.  I made it in the food processor, and it reminded me more of grits than mashed potatoes.  Not bad, but not exactly what I wanted.  I might try some more recipes or a different method of preparation.

5-2-13 lunch

5-2-13 lunch, Whole30 friendly

One of my favorite things about getting a weekly produce delivery from one of our local farms is the variety.  So many times, I get items that I would normally not pick up at the grocery store.  These blackberries are one example.  I hardly ever buy berries other than strawberries.  These were a welcome surprise, and they were super delicious too.

5-6-13 breakfast

5-6-13 breakfast, Whole30 friendly

  • Avocado
  • Sweet potato and sauerkraut (via Practical Paleo)
  • Chopped hard boiled eggs

I love me some red cabbage sauerkraut.

4-29-13 lunch

4-29-13 lunch, Whole30 friendly

  • Cuban picadillo
  • Mashed cauliflower (via Practical Paleo)
  • Carrot and celery sticks with mayo (via Well Fed)
  • Bananas and strawberries

Those chives were another produce delivery bonus.  I hardly ever bother to garnish things, but it really makes eating just that much nicer.

4-29-13 breakfast

4-29-13 breakfast, Whole30 friendly

  •  Guacamole
  • Chopped hard boiled eggs
  • Sweet potato and sauerkraut

I’ve been experimenting with buying avocado on sale, smashing it and freezing it.  But it kind of changes the texture, and I find that I don’t like it as much on it’s own.  However, I think frozen avocado could be fine for making chocolate avocado pudding.  Yum!

 

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13 in 2013: Go riding on a bike trail

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**Every season, I post a set of goals that I set out to accomplish. I track my progress here on my blog. I like the challenge of setting goals – it helps me to accomplish so much more. This post features one of my Spring 13 goals.**

Loading up the bikes

Loading up the bikes

I’ve had the goal of going riding on a bike trail for awhile now.  My husband got a new (vintage) bike for Christmas, and we just got a bike hitch for my car last month, so everything’s been in place. We got together with one of our good friends (who is actually the same one who went on the trail with us four years ago), and on Sunday we set off for the Pinellas trail.

Pinellas trail: leaving Tarpon Springs

Pinellas trail: leaving Tarpon Springs

We started our journey in Tarpon Springs, and made the ten mile ride to Dunedin.  The weather was gorgeous – cool and clear, in the 70s all day. The ride is about ten miles long (the trail goes much longer than that, but we just rode a section).  It really is a beautiful trail – shady for a lot of the way, going through little neighborhoods, passing through intersections and quaint “downtowns”.  The trail is smooth, safe, and delightful to ride on.  There were plenty of other people riding, walking, and making use of the trail.

Dunedin brewery

Dunedin brewery

 

Our goal of the ride was Dunedin brewery, where we partook in adult beverages and awesome food.  Not the cleanest eating ever, but still awesome.  I had a grilled mahi-mahi salad, but I certainly stole some of my husband’s french fries too.  There’s not many non-Paleo foods that I still find myself craving, but god I love french fries.  After an hour or so at the Brewery, we headed back to Tarpon Springs.

Pinellas trail bike shot

We ended up getting home a lot later than originally planned, as I kind of got slightly lost in Pinellas, but it was still a fabulous trip overall.  Definitely something I would like to make a habit of.

Stopping for the sunset

Stopping for the sunset

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Links I Love: 5-5-13

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Links I Love

*Here’s some links I loved this past week or so while reading some of my favorite blogs*

Food

  • Grilled Nopales (Cactus Paddles) I see these at the farmer’s market all the time, but I’ve never been quite sure how to cook them.  Seems like it would be fun to try and expand my flavor horizons. (The Domestic Man) via Chowstalker.
  • Cauliflower Tortillas I miss me some tortillas.  These don’t sound too hard, and I bet they taste good.  (Slim Palate) via Chowstalker.
  • What size pressure cooker should I buy? great for an introduction on what size pressure cookers to buy first. (Hip Pressure Cooking)
  • Baked Eggs With Hollandaise Sauce – OMG I want to make this now. (Against All Grain)
  • Estimating Freezer Space: I’ve been wanting to buy beef in bulk, but I’ve always been nervous about how much freezer space I actually need.  This post gives a great visual on just how much meat a whole cow makes.

Design

Life/ Health/ Exercise

  • I love how Steve Kamb incorporates play into working out with his Amazing Spider Man Workout Plan.  This makes me want to walk down to the park and jump around on things.  (Nerd Fitness)
  • ” All you have to do is understand that everything you do today is creating your future. The actions you take (or don’t take), the things you say (or don’t say), and the way you think about yourself have a huge impact on where you end up in life..”  (Sage Grayson)
  • How to Get Fitter, Faster, and Stronger with Quality Sleep – I need to read this post, and then read it again.  I know I’m not getting as much sleep as I should be, and a lot of days it’s because I’m getting up extra early for 6am Crossfit.  Must get to bed earlier or start taking naps (Mark’s Daily Apple)
  • A Four Step Plan to Feel Better – Excellent advice. (Yes and Yes)

Only a few years late

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When maxi dresses first started trending a few years ago, I just couldn’t get into them.  They seemed like a weird mix of formal and casual, and I just didn’t like it.  But now I’ve started to come around.  They’re comfortable, cool outside but okay for AC inside, and they’re nice enough for work.  So now I’m scouring thrift stores to find more maxi length dresses.  Expect to see these a lot.

calvin klein shirt detail

I first tried this trend about a year or so ago, and have come to start liking it again.  It’s a great way to layer tops over dresses.  This outfit is really unusual in that both pieces are the same brand (Calvin Klein).  One I thrifted, the other I got in an eBay lot.  I didn’t really plan this – I just liked how the two pieces worked together.

SmilesGoWithEverything: necklace detail

This necklace has stood the test of time.  I bought it from Express years ago, and I’ve worn it a ton since then, as far back as July 2009.  It goes with so many outfits, and always makes a great accent.

SmilesGoWithEverything: head shot

  • Dress: Calvin Klein (via eBay)
  • Top: Calvin Klein (thrifted)
  • Necklace: Express
  • Sandals: Dansko

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Links I Love: 4-28-13

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Links I Love

*Here’s some links I loved this past week or so while reading some of my favorite blogs*

Food

  • Preserved Lemons (This American Bite via Chowstalker).  This sounds like a great way to add flavor.
  • Pressure Cooker Strawberry Jam  (Hip Pressure Cooking).  I made this a few days ago, and it’s AMAZING and addictive. And being just strawberries and honey, it’s way better than jam with additives and preservatives  Just don’t go crazy with it.
  • Paleo Brownies (Elana’s Pantry) I’m always up for trying another paleo brownie recipe.
  • Latin American Casserole (BareFood via Chowstalker) Sweet potatoes, plantains and ground lamb.  What’s not to love?
  • How much protein should you be eating? (Mark’s Daily Apple) When I tell people I’m Paleo, many assume that I eat ridiculous amounts of meat.  Mark helps to explain why that’s not the best route (and for the record, I eat way more veggies and healthy fats than meat)

Design

Style/ DIY

  • How to lengthen a mini-dress (Clothed Much) – I’ve thrifted so many just-a-bit too short dresses and tried with varying success to lengthen them, but I’ve never seen one done as well as this.
  • When to thrift (Already Pretty)  Sally explains when the ideal thrifting times are.

Life

  • Spring Cleaning Checklist (The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking) – I desperately need to deep clean my house – this would help me to make sure I don’t miss anything.
  • 30 Minute Meal Planning Routine (Kyla Roma) – My meal planning system needs some revamping, and I love how Kyla does it – so organized!  This would be a great way to take some stress out of cooking every week.
  • The Whole9 Baby Guide (Whole9) While I’m not having kids anytime soon, this is still a fantastic resource for having kids.  I’ll try to keep it in mind if I decide to have kids in a couple years.

Bento Q & A: Submit Your Questions!

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Got questions?

Got questions?

I’ve been blogging my bento boxes for a long time, but I’ve never done a proper Q & A.  I received plenty of e-mailed questions in the past, but I’ve been admittedly horrible about answering them.  So, as part of my Spring 13 goals, I’m opening up the floor.  Please comment on here with any questions you may have about my bentos.  Maybe you want to see more photos of how I prepare them?  Maybe you want recommendations or thoughts on different types of bento boxes?   Whatever it is, leave a comment, or e-mail me using the contact link on my sidebar.  In the next week or so, I’ll write a whole post (or more if needed) answering your questions.

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4-21-13: Links I love

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Links I Love
*Here’s some links I loved this past week or so while reading some of my favorite blogs*

Food

  • Stupid Easy Paleo (via Chowstalker): Plantain beef pie After eating plantains again after a long hiatus this past week, I definitely want to make this
  • Summer Tomato: How to eat more mindfully.  While not a recipe, I could definitely use some more mindfullness in my eating.  I have a bad habit of always reading or listening to a podcast or doing anything but actually focusing on my food.
  • Civilized Caveman: Vanilla Bean Strawberry Jam After a bumper crop of strawberries in Florida, this is the perfect time to make this.
  • Mark’s Daily Apple: Best coconut butter ever  You mean you can make coconut butter from scratch and not have to pay $13 a jar for it?  Hell yes!
  • The Clothes Make the Girl: 7 Day real food challenge If you’re not ready for Paleo, or not sure about it, try just eating real food for seven days.  It can change your life.

Design

Exercise/ Health/ Life

  • Whole 9: Five Essential Movements Part 1 and Part 2:  I love that almost all of these are things I already do in Crossfit.

 

Bento Box Saturday: 4-20-13

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*Welcome to Bento Box Saturday!  Most Saturdays, I post photos of some of my bento lunches and breakfasts that I’ve made recently.  I use a Laptop Lunches bento box for my lunches and I love it because it helps me to reduce the amount waste I create.  I also love how it makes for perfect portion sizes.  And my lunches look pretty cute too:)  To learn more about how I pack and carry my Laptop Lunches bento, check out this post.  I  use a Lunchbots Trio and Quad for my breakfasts*

April 3, 2013 lunch (Whole30 friendly)

  • Braised beef shanks (recipe coming soon!)
  • Romaine, grape tomato and olive salad
  • Carrot and celery sticks with olive oil mayo (via Well Fed)
  • Banana

This lunch gave me a chance to pair one of my new recipes with my other lunch regulars.  I made braised beef shanks in my pressure cooker, and while they came out tasty, the recipe still needs some tweaking. I plan on writing this in the next couple of weeks or so as one of my Spring 13 goals – writing two recipe posts. (I already posted my recipe for kombucha)

April 16, 2013 lunch (Whole30 friendly)

You may or may not know it, but Cuban culture plays a big part in Tampa.  It’s a part of our heritage as Tampans, not matter what our race is.  My family is white, but I still grew up loving cuban sandwiches, flan, chicken and yellow rice, and of course, fried plantains.  Yet aside from picadillo, I really don’t cook Cuban food as often as I should.  So, when I saw super ripe plantains at a farmer’s market, I scooped them up for some platanos fritos.  All you have to do is slice them up and fry them in coconut oil or ghee.  Yum! (Note: I recognize that plantains are not an exclusively Cuban dish – I’m just giving context).

April 16, 2013 Breakfast (Whole30 and 21DSD friendly)

  • Chopped up burger
  • 1 avocado
  • Spinach and sauerkraut
  • Chopped hard boiled eggs

Nothing too complicated here – just a tasty, protein rich breakfast.

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