Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Three Dogs At Home: Picture That!
Three Dogs At Home: Picture That!:
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
You can aparently spray paint mats from old frames. Hmmm
Three Dogs At Home: Design is in the Details
Three Dogs At Home: Design is in the Details:
'via Blog this'
Use this idea for painting our brass fixtures.
'via Blog this'
Use this idea for painting our brass fixtures.
Eye Exercises
Very interesting information for anyone whose eyesight is not perfectthese exercises strengthen the muscles around the eye.
- Rotation: Imagine a huge clock right in front of you, and slowly move your eyes from 12 to 1 to 2 and all the way around 5 times. Focus at each stop. Then do it 5 times in the opposite direction. Repeat 3 times a day.
- Alternating focus: Focus your eyes on something quite close, and then on something about 6 m (20 ft) away. Continue alternating your focus from close to far for about 5 minutes, and do this 3 or 4 times a day.
- Pencil pushups: Hold your finger or a pencil up at arm’s length and focus on it while slowly moving it to your nose. When the image doubles, move your finger back a bit and focus on it for a few seconds. You should do 10 repetitions 3 times a day until you can bring your finger to the tip of your nose without it appearing double.
- Relaxation: Rest your eyes regularly if you’re reading, working at the computer, or doing other close work. This means that every thirty minutes, you should take at least 30 seconds to focus on something distant. (A friend’s son was ordered to take a five-minute break every 20 minutes to save his eyesight. Same principle, I suppose.)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Easy Grilled Vegetables
Yummy:
I could eat these easy grilled vegetables every day. And in the summer, we almost do. Sometimes it's just one type (green beans rise to new height done this way!) or a couple (zucchini and onion), but most of the time we grill a variety.
And you know that if I love something, you will be hearing about it sooner or later- so today I'mhappy ecstatic to share how we grill vegetables, so you can eat them everyday, too.
We used to just grill slices of single vegetables - you know, slice the zucchini (or tomato, or onion...), carefully place them on the grill, and turn them with tongs until they were ready to eat. It usually took up a lot of room and was more work.
Then one day last summer we found a grill basket in the back of a cupboard that Brian's folks had given us and decided to grill up a few vegetables with it.
Oh. My. It was love - deep love - at the first bite. Why had this been sitting in our cupboard for so long? Who knows, and who cares, because this basket is in almost daily use during the grilling season.
With a grilling basket (a wok-like "pan" with holes), you can chop vegetables into bite-sized pieces without worry - as long as they are bigger than the holes they won't fall through the grill'
After the vegetables are chopped (it's best to make them about the same size as you're able), just toss them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, LOTS of garlic, and some red pepper flakes for a bit of spiciness.
This is perfect for using up handfuls of veggies- either as they're ripening from the garden, or what you need to use up from the fridge. This time my bowl contained both- just a few mushrooms and a red pepper from the fridge plus onion, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans, carrots and potato from the garden.
I don't usually add potatoes, but I had just harvested some that I wanted to use up, and in order for these, the cauliflower, and the carrots to be done in the same amount of time as the other vegetables, I microwaved them with water to steam for a few minutes - just until they were crisp-tender. I sliced the potatoes pretty thin, but I should've pre-cooked them a bit more, because they still took longer than I wanted.
the best way to cook them is to start them over high heat for a few minutes without stirring. This seems to get some of the juices cooked out and starts the nice charring effect.
Then he stirs them around a bit, closes the lid and lets them cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until they are nicely browned and cooked through (though still crisp), with spots of wonderful, grilled-marked goodness.
I could eat these easy grilled vegetables every day. And in the summer, we almost do. Sometimes it's just one type (green beans rise to new height done this way!) or a couple (zucchini and onion), but most of the time we grill a variety.
And you know that if I love something, you will be hearing about it sooner or later- so today I'm
We used to just grill slices of single vegetables - you know, slice the zucchini (or tomato, or onion...), carefully place them on the grill, and turn them with tongs until they were ready to eat. It usually took up a lot of room and was more work.
Then one day last summer we found a grill basket in the back of a cupboard that Brian's folks had given us and decided to grill up a few vegetables with it.
Oh. My. It was love - deep love - at the first bite. Why had this been sitting in our cupboard for so long? Who knows, and who cares, because this basket is in almost daily use during the grilling season.
After the vegetables are chopped (it's best to make them about the same size as you're able), just toss them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, LOTS of garlic, and some red pepper flakes for a bit of spiciness.
This is perfect for using up handfuls of veggies- either as they're ripening from the garden, or what you need to use up from the fridge. This time my bowl contained both- just a few mushrooms and a red pepper from the fridge plus onion, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans, carrots and potato from the garden.
I don't usually add potatoes, but I had just harvested some that I wanted to use up, and in order for these, the cauliflower, and the carrots to be done in the same amount of time as the other vegetables, I microwaved them with water to steam for a few minutes - just until they were crisp-tender. I sliced the potatoes pretty thin, but I should've pre-cooked them a bit more, because they still took longer than I wanted.
the best way to cook them is to start them over high heat for a few minutes without stirring. This seems to get some of the juices cooked out and starts the nice charring effect.
Then he stirs them around a bit, closes the lid and lets them cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until they are nicely browned and cooked through (though still crisp), with spots of wonderful, grilled-marked goodness.
- For an Asian flavor add some sesame oil and soy sauce instead of the olive and salt. And for spiciness, our favorite Sriracha sauce adds a nice bite.
- For a Middle-Eastern or Thai flavor try adding a teaspoon or so of curry powder and tossing them with a can of coconut milk after they're grilled and serve over rice.
- Purposely make extra to have enough to add to a pasta salad the next day.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Cutting the Grid Apron Strings, One Appliance at a Time...
Very interesting article on practical ways to look at being less of an energy user from the homestead revival, suggest you visit Amy's site to see the entire entry plus the comments, link is my title.
I've been thinking a lot about reducing our electric and natural gas bills as of late. Who hasn't? It's a crazy world out there and prices keep rising, not to mention the fact that as a culture in general, we're very vulnerable in the area of electricity and fossil fuel dependency.
Our goal or focus as a family has been to 1) reduce our utility bills and 2) to become less dependent on utility companies in general. Living "off grid" meant either going with solar or wind power and producing our own energy. There really wasn't any other alternative in our minds.
But after reading a few blogs, conversing with Brenda of Freedom Acres Farm, and then reading Michael Bunker's book, Surviving Off Off-Grid, I've learned a lot over the last month and it's changed my mind a bit about our choices.
Going on solar power or wind power should only be seen as an intermediate step because you're only trading one dependency for another. This isn't to say you shouldn't use solar power, wind power, or some other alternative power source, but it isn't the grand solution to end all issues. Seeing solar as a way to ease into a life of less dependency is a more realistic option. And before one can even consider an alternative power source, you've got to cut back on your current dependency. Brenda really helped me see the need for this (thanks, Brenda!).
Now if I were to suddenly go through my house and trash every electrical appliance or gadget, I'd certainly have a mutiny on my hands, quick as a wink! And I won't attempt to list all our energy dependent appliances, but what I'm trying to do is cut the apron strings to the grid one appliance at a time. Let me give you an example...
This has been our coffee pot for the last several years. It's usually used on a daily basis, heating the coffee for about 2 hours before the hot plate shuts off unless we think about it and turn it off manually (not often). We like it a lot except that it stopped working the other day despite my regular cleanings and maintenance. Normally, we would have immediately gone out and purchased something similar, but this time, I talked with my husband about considering alternatives.
One option that we already had in the back of a cabinet is a French Press. I purchased this a couple of years ago when we were traveling, attending a retreat, and I needed my own low-acid coffee. It's a straightforward alternative in which you place the grounds inside the bottom, pour boiling water over them, stir, let steep for a minute, and then gently press the plunger down over the grounds. You can then pour your coffee. The French Press is easy to clean and simple to operate.
The drawback to the French Press is that it can't go directly onto a heat source (at least mine can't), the glass could easily break, and it doesn't keep the coffee hot. Think of this as an immediate coffee maker in which the coffee should be consumed as soon as it's brewed. Mine will make about 3-4 regular cups, so it's fine if you have a small group. However, if you want another cup, you'd need to start over.
A second alternative was an old fashion percolator; my husband's preference. We purchased this stainless steel model at an army surplus store before our camping trip to the coast. Another uncomplicated device, which holds coffee grounds in a basket containing small holes, while pumping heated water up a tube into the basket, allowing the water to wash over the grounds and then drain through the holes back into the pot. The cycle repeats itself until it's brewed to your preference. Since the holes in the basket are small, large grounds don't come through, but smaller grounds do. Some opt to use a paper filter inside the basket to prevent this.
Now you might be thinking that this little change isn't much and so why bother? What's the difference in a little ol' coffee pot? It's a small change indeed. But little things add up over time. Imagine changing 12 of your appliances over the course of a year? One per month? That would start to make an impact, now wouldn't it. Maybe not in terms of the world, but in your own immediate world, it certainly would! And if you're considering solar power, you're more than likely going to need to reduce your electrical usage if you want to go off grid anyway.
If we were to install solar realistically (and believe me, we've looked into it with 3 different companies), we could only generate 60% of what we are currently using. We'd still need to purchase the additional 40% of electricity - ON A GOOD DAY! That means, to be totally off-grid, we'd need to reduce our energy consumption by 40-50% before the solar was ever installed. Puts things into perspective a bit more, doesn't it?
A power meter will help give you an idea of how much each appliance is using in terms of kilowatt hours and how much that's costing you as well. We purchased ours, but I understand some local libraries will allow you to check these out if they have them. A quick google search showed me several right off the top. Once again, you may feel that your appliance isn't using that much electricity, so why bother. But a drop on the bucket adds up!
Obviously, each person will have that one appliance they just don't want to give up and they'd rather pay to use it. This is exactly why we should be allowed to govern our own lives and not have the government tell us what we can and cannot use. What's important to me, may not be important to you and visa versa. But it's good to know there are alternatives, what they are, how to use them, and if possible, obtain them as a back up. Just in case.
Our goal or focus as a family has been to 1) reduce our utility bills and 2) to become less dependent on utility companies in general. Living "off grid" meant either going with solar or wind power and producing our own energy. There really wasn't any other alternative in our minds.
Going on solar power or wind power should only be seen as an intermediate step because you're only trading one dependency for another. This isn't to say you shouldn't use solar power, wind power, or some other alternative power source, but it isn't the grand solution to end all issues. Seeing solar as a way to ease into a life of less dependency is a more realistic option. And before one can even consider an alternative power source, you've got to cut back on your current dependency. Brenda really helped me see the need for this (thanks, Brenda!).
Now if I were to suddenly go through my house and trash every electrical appliance or gadget, I'd certainly have a mutiny on my hands, quick as a wink! And I won't attempt to list all our energy dependent appliances, but what I'm trying to do is cut the apron strings to the grid one appliance at a time. Let me give you an example...
This has been our coffee pot for the last several years. It's usually used on a daily basis, heating the coffee for about 2 hours before the hot plate shuts off unless we think about it and turn it off manually (not often). We like it a lot except that it stopped working the other day despite my regular cleanings and maintenance. Normally, we would have immediately gone out and purchased something similar, but this time, I talked with my husband about considering alternatives.
One option that we already had in the back of a cabinet is a French Press. I purchased this a couple of years ago when we were traveling, attending a retreat, and I needed my own low-acid coffee. It's a straightforward alternative in which you place the grounds inside the bottom, pour boiling water over them, stir, let steep for a minute, and then gently press the plunger down over the grounds. You can then pour your coffee. The French Press is easy to clean and simple to operate.
The drawback to the French Press is that it can't go directly onto a heat source (at least mine can't), the glass could easily break, and it doesn't keep the coffee hot. Think of this as an immediate coffee maker in which the coffee should be consumed as soon as it's brewed. Mine will make about 3-4 regular cups, so it's fine if you have a small group. However, if you want another cup, you'd need to start over.
A second alternative was an old fashion percolator; my husband's preference. We purchased this stainless steel model at an army surplus store before our camping trip to the coast. Another uncomplicated device, which holds coffee grounds in a basket containing small holes, while pumping heated water up a tube into the basket, allowing the water to wash over the grounds and then drain through the holes back into the pot. The cycle repeats itself until it's brewed to your preference. Since the holes in the basket are small, large grounds don't come through, but smaller grounds do. Some opt to use a paper filter inside the basket to prevent this.
The percolator can go directly on the heat source, keeps the coffee hotter, and can serve more people. Plus, you don't need to start over for that second cup.
Now both of these alternatives require an initial purchase, both of which probably required some kind of fossil fuels to fabricate and deliver. But neither require an on going fuel source other than the simple heating of water, either in the pot itself or another receptacle. An open flame from a campfire would do the job. Neither of these options would I leave on for 2 HOURS to brew. I'm actually hoping to try the percolator on my wood stove this winter to see if it will get hot enough to actually work. If so, that's a heat source I'm already using, but I would be using it for more than one purpose.
Both options brew coffee differently than a drip coffee maker and thus both cause the coffee to taste a bit different. I don't know how to suggest testing this to see which is to your liking other than asking around to see if a friend has one of these to borrow. There will always be those who insist one is preferable over another. Let me just say, we're foodies to a certain degree, and a good cup of coffee is to be relished, but the truth be told, in time, you'll adjust to whatever you have - a probably like it.
One thing to consider if you are opting for the French Press... get a thermos. The kind that they use in coffee shops. Fortunately, I already had one and this did not require a new purchase (see mine in the photo). I can't tell you the number of times I've used this thing! Well worth the purchase price, I can assure you! In the winter, I use it for my hot beverage bar if I'm not using my electric tea kettle (which I'm reconsidering now!). Just heat one large batch of water each morning, pour it in the thermos, and you have hot water all day long. Instead of using electricity several times a day, you're only using it once a day, unless of course, you decide to heat your water on the wood stove!
Now you might be thinking that this little change isn't much and so why bother? What's the difference in a little ol' coffee pot? It's a small change indeed. But little things add up over time. Imagine changing 12 of your appliances over the course of a year? One per month? That would start to make an impact, now wouldn't it. Maybe not in terms of the world, but in your own immediate world, it certainly would! And if you're considering solar power, you're more than likely going to need to reduce your electrical usage if you want to go off grid anyway.
If we were to install solar realistically (and believe me, we've looked into it with 3 different companies), we could only generate 60% of what we are currently using. We'd still need to purchase the additional 40% of electricity - ON A GOOD DAY! That means, to be totally off-grid, we'd need to reduce our energy consumption by 40-50% before the solar was ever installed. Puts things into perspective a bit more, doesn't it?
 |
| Ryobi Power Usage Meter |
Obviously, each person will have that one appliance they just don't want to give up and they'd rather pay to use it. This is exactly why we should be allowed to govern our own lives and not have the government tell us what we can and cannot use. What's important to me, may not be important to you and visa versa. But it's good to know there are alternatives, what they are, how to use them, and if possible, obtain them as a back up. Just in case.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Give Away: Back Yard Food Production!
I found out about this DVD resource at Homestead Revival where Amy is offering a chance to actually win the thing! Can't believe it. This would be a wonderful resource and my husband, who just them morning was actually talking about raising our own chickens for egg production, would probably be receptive to learning about other ways we can provide for ourselves rather than relying on the grocery store aisles. Head over to Amy's place at Homestead Revival and check it out for yourself.
• An overview of how she began her journey and her homestead's situation in terms of climate and soil
• Watering solutions - sources, harvesting, and containment
• Gardening - how she raises enough to feed her family, and I mean all of it!
• Rabbits as a sustainable protein source
• Home butchering (rabbits are done in detail and then a couple of other small animals are addressed as well)
• Poultry as another sustainable protein source (more for eggs than meat, but she does discuss meat)
• Dogs as a working animal on your homestead
• Perennials: Orchards, Food Forests, and Edible Landscaping (Permaculture)
• Other Essentials: everything from solar food dehydration to hog panels!
It really was helpful having Marjory share what didn'twork for her, and I was encouraged by the fact that she didn't do this overnight. She's very clear that every homesteader should start small and learn from each step before jumping into something bigger. Honestly, I've wondered at times if being a sustainable homesteader was really possible in this day and age, but seeing what she's done on a small acreage with just a couple of hours each day to maintain what she's established has given me a renewed vision that it CAN happen.
During the video, Marjory will often reference a document that she's included on a separate CD for you to access. This is like getting a book of all the important, need-to-know information along with the DVD - primary sources! Some are from her state of Texas, but don't be mislead to think they won't help you. I spent some time going over the Texas Rainwater Harvesting document and it's an excellent 88 page resource for anyone, anywhere. It includes color pictures of examples along with detailed instructions for setting up your own system. All you'd need to do is find out your own state laws in order to be compliant locally.
• An overview of how she began her journey and her homestead's situation in terms of climate and soil
• Watering solutions - sources, harvesting, and containment
• Gardening - how she raises enough to feed her family, and I mean all of it!
• Rabbits as a sustainable protein source
• Home butchering (rabbits are done in detail and then a couple of other small animals are addressed as well)
• Poultry as another sustainable protein source (more for eggs than meat, but she does discuss meat)
• Dogs as a working animal on your homestead
• Perennials: Orchards, Food Forests, and Edible Landscaping (Permaculture)
• Other Essentials: everything from solar food dehydration to hog panels!
During the video, Marjory will often reference a document that she's included on a separate CD for you to access. This is like getting a book of all the important, need-to-know information along with the DVD - primary sources! Some are from her state of Texas, but don't be mislead to think they won't help you. I spent some time going over the Texas Rainwater Harvesting document and it's an excellent 88 page resource for anyone, anywhere. It includes color pictures of examples along with detailed instructions for setting up your own system. All you'd need to do is find out your own state laws in order to be compliant locally.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Kids Bathroom Makeover—Installing Board and Batten
Don’t you love it? I looked for a shower curtain high and low and everywhere in between! I was beginning to think that the perfect shower curtain just didn’t exist. And then I found this baby. (And just as a side note—it was $21.99 but it came with a small flaw in the fabric and so I called them and they knocked $10 off the price—so I only paid $11.99 for my PERFECT shower curtain!!—and you can’t even see the flaw—can you?)
Then we decided to add some fun and interest to the walls of the bathroom. I had found these instructions from one of my favorite blogs (320 Sycamore) for an inexpensive way to do board and batten and knew this would be perfect for this room.
So we purchased a bundle of inexpensive Lath pieces from Home Depot. My hubby sanded them down and we installed them about 10” apart.
Next we added a 1 x 4 piece of primed MDF for the top.
Then my hubby filled all the holes and sanded them all down.
Next it was up to me to caulk all the edges and paint it up. This was the time consuming part. But I think it turned out awesome!
Next we added some handy little towel hooks and put up my FAVORITE bathroom art: pictures of MY BABIES.
![IMG_1841[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR4aCq7-TuGuOLyW7X8Z9rZYaIRrVhEW-obeix08AQBmzUZBvKu_oiq0dkNys9eRjwYzbdfy73I-ITkiT1UGXLa0TaRZ5Oz1xwF1wl_KYdshajsI17UVCZvW7RgFXulR7zISv1tiCKSc/s1600-h/IMG_1841%25255B1%25255D%25255B5%25255D.jpg "IMG_1841[1]")
![IMG_1842[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0sWE6OcwVnmfVei2rfle6U_6Hvo0ULAFkwfJuIapscU9dNGDInq9sMAcfHIDCrhvd214Ehvw9LoaIaVzqXZNYYdgU6eq0x-ibqja-wBYEukgSvx8XuccBNTngR9WHJoS-ToyhFpJ4o4/s1600-h/IMG_1842%25255B1%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg "IMG_1842[1]")
![IMG_1843[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgku1qMMgrQGmykLC53c9bRtdqwy-wbNhvHMyycZzLbCOSlxiYsE7-wZhQuG5QLaqV2THGv5dPHZczw-XtNv3tG2kGFBNbMhfbSbxdbwTCDiAKSCUxM9ZnA_8ulw-2Z9d7CZWYSI4oAY/s1600-h/IMG_1843%25255B1%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg "IMG_1843[1]")
Friday, July 29, 2011
Mama and Baby Love: Freezer Cooking with Slow Cooker Recipes
This is what they look like, yummy, click on title to read the her post and get her recipes. I found this via a link on Pinterest. She said she felt like she invented electricity when she discovered how to do this. I am so glad she "discovered electricity" because I will be using this technique.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Clothing inventory
To really save money...shop out of season. Summer clothes are going on sale now. During my inventory, I noticed my husbands short sleeve polo shirts were starting to look worn. So I went shopping and found a great deal at a Hamricks store.
They had men's polo collared shirts for $5.98 each! The shirts are 60/40 poly cotton, preshrunk, and I purchased 5 of them for him to wear to work.
Here is a great tip for setting the color in shirts and really keeps them from fading.
Before washing place the shirt in a bowl of white vinegar and let soak for an hour. Ring out vinegar and then wash in cold water.
The vinegar sets the color in the fabric. I do this for all my new colored clothing.
5 Exercises for Everyday
e 5-Minute Fitness Secret
By: Adam Campbell, M.S., C.S.C.S.
Want a fat-burning workout that fits your life? Then check out this routine that uses moves from The Women’s Health Big Book of Exercises. You can do it almost anywhere, and you can do it fast—yet you’ll be amazed at how quickly it gets your heart-pumping. All you need is just one pair of light dumbbells—5 or 10 pounders!—to target every part of your body while burning tons of calories. So you’ll never have to leave your house or even use a treadmill.
The best part: You can tailor the routine to fit your schedule. Because one circuit takes exactly five minutes, you can give yourself a fat-burning boost any day, any time. For example, say you have only 10 minutes on Monday. Go ahead and just do two circuits. On Wednesday and Friday, maybe you have 20 minutes—enough time for four circuits. But maybe you find yourself with the time and energy for a 10 or 15-minute workout on Saturday or Sunday. Jump to it! Just think of each circuit as a five-minute fat-burner. Use that strategy to shape your body whenever you get the opportunity.
Directions: The workout is simple: There are 5 exercises. We’ll consider each a “station.” Go to each station for 60 seconds. Do the exercise for 30 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds. Repeat this process—moving to a new exercise at the top of every minute—until you’ve completed all five exercises. That’s one circuit. Catch your breath, then repeat the entire circuit. Try do four to five circuits (very challenging!), three days a week, for a super-fast, fat-blasting plan. But remember, you can customize the plan to fit your schedule if needed. So if the three-day-a-week approach doesn’t work for you, simply try to do a total of 12 to 15 circuits a week—working them in when you can.
One note: This workout is made for light weights. How light? You should feel challenged by each exercise. Read: You’ll be breathing hard and feeling it in the targeted area. If 5 or 10-pound weights are too easy, use the trial-and-error method to determine the weight that’s right for you.
Beginners: You may need to start out a little easier. Simply do each exercise for 15 seconds, and rest for 45 seconds. Do two to three circuits. As you become more comfortable, increase the time you perform each exercise and the number of circuits you do.
Fitness buffs: If you want to make the routine harder, just increase the amount of the 60-second station that you spend working, and decrease the amount that you rest. So you might do each exercise for 45 seconds and rest for just 15 seconds.
For even more novel fat-burning moves, check out The Best New Exercises for Women.
Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Dumbbell Lunge and Rotation
Step 1
Step 2
- Grab a dumbbell and hold it by the ends, just below your chin.
- Step forward into a lunge. As you lunge, rotate your upper body toward the same side as the leg you're using to step forward.
- This move has been excerpted from The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises by Adam Campbell.
This move works:
Biceps, Calves, Core, Obliques, Quadriceps
Biceps, Calves, Core, Obliques, Quadriceps
Photo Credit: Beth Bischoff
Mountain Climber
Step 1
Step 2
- Assume a pushup position with your arms completely straight.
- Lift your right foot off the floor and slowly raise your knee as close to your chest as you can. Touch the floor with your right foot. Return to the starting position. Repeat with your left leg. Alternate back and forth for 30 seconds.
- This move has been excerpted from The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises by Adam Campbell.
This move works:
Abs, Chest, Core, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back, Obliques, Quadriceps, Shoulders, Upper Back
Abs, Chest, Core, Hamstrings, Hips, Lower Back, Obliques, Quadriceps, Shoulders, Upper Back
Photo Credit: Beth Bischoff
Dumbbell Push Press
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
- Hold a pair of dumbbells next to your shoulders with your elbows bent.
- Dip your knees.
- Explosively push up with your legs as you press the dumbbells over your head.
- This move has been excerpted from The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises by Adam Campbell.
This move works:
Shoulders, Triceps
Shoulders, Triceps
Photo Credit:
Dumbbell Row
Step 1
Step 2
- Grab a pair of dumbbells, bend at your hips and knees, and lower your torso until it's almost parallel to the floor. Let the dumbbells hang at arm's length from your shoulders, your palms facing behind you.
- Bend your elbows and pull the dumbbells to the sides of your torso. Pause, then slowly lower the dumbbells.
- This move has been excerpted from The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises by Adam Campbell.
This move works:
Upper Back
Upper Back
Photo Credit: Beth Bischoff
Squat Thrusts
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides.
- Push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body as deep as you can into a squat.
- Kick your legs backward, so that you're now in a pushup position.
- Then quickly bring your legs back to the squat position.
- Stand up quickly and repeat the entire movement.
It's amazing what you can accomplish when your kid is sick (episode II)
It's amazing what you can accomplish when your kid is sick (episode II): "After spending $2 a jar for pizza sauce that wasn't even that great, nor was it organic, I realized that making my own might be a better way to go...
And then I realized how easy and cheap it was to make and I want to kick myself for buying those stupid jars for so long.
Now I make a huge batch of this every few months and always have it on hand.
Pizza Sauce
5 cans of organic tomato paste (Costco carries 12 packs for under $5)
1/4 cup of raw honey
A bunch of minced garlic
Dried basil, oregano, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and rosemary to taste
Water
Mix the tomato paste, honey, garlic, and spices. Slowly add water and stir until it reaches your desired consistency. Let the bowl sit on the counter for 30-60 minutes until the flavors have had a chance to mellow and meld.
Freeze in 1 cup portions.
"
And then I realized how easy and cheap it was to make and I want to kick myself for buying those stupid jars for so long.
Now I make a huge batch of this every few months and always have it on hand.
Pizza Sauce
5 cans of organic tomato paste (Costco carries 12 packs for under $5)
1/4 cup of raw honey
A bunch of minced garlic
Dried basil, oregano, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and rosemary to taste
Water
Mix the tomato paste, honey, garlic, and spices. Slowly add water and stir until it reaches your desired consistency. Let the bowl sit on the counter for 30-60 minutes until the flavors have had a chance to mellow and meld.
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| And just so we're 'keeping it real', this is what the rest of my dining room table looked like while taking the 1st photo. |
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