Today’s Serving- Save money use the Library

I love the library and here are just a few reasons why.
1) I am a complete book nerd and could never afford to buy everything that I read.
2) You can reserve books on line and they will call you when they are ready. This makes it a very quick trip to pick up books and check out.
3) You can request the library to order new books. If they get enough requests for a certain book they will buy it.
4) You can even request to be put on a waiting list for a book before it comes out.
5) I hate clutter. Once I’m done with a book I give it back and it isn’t taking up room in my house anymore.
6) I love listening to classical music while I make dinner or do work around the house. I can get a different CD every week to listen to.
7) I have access to magazines that I would never consider subscribing to due to the price. When your interests are food, photography, and home and garden you don’t really have to be concerned about being a few months or even a year behind.
8) Even if you can’t finish a book in the three week time frame you can renew online and even if you turn it in late a $1.60 fee sure beats the price of the book even at a used book store.
9) I love to listen to audio books. It makes my drive time so much more bearable. Do you know how much they cost!
10) Even though I don’t utilize the library for these things I know that these things are there: Movies, internet/computer access, meeting rooms, study rooms, book clubs, research and job search tools, classes and programs.
Warning: If you are new to the library and need a card. Go prepared. I found it harder to get a library card than a new driver’s license! They required a picture ID and a utility bill to prove that I lived in their service area.

Adventures in Recipes- Orange Cauliflower Mac n' Cheese

Last night I tried this recipe here on FoodBlogga.com. I’ve never been a huge macaroni and cheese fan. Growing up the way mom always made it was too mushy and flavorless for my taste. I actually liked the flavors in this recipe but the texture did not work for me. I think this recipe would work better for someone who loves a creamy macaroni and cheese and who want to cut calories with out sacrificing flavor.

Today’s Serving- Take your time and chew your food.

Chewing your food may seem like an obvious thing to do, but in my family it is something that requires a conscious effort. We eat so fast we often don’t realize what we are eating. My mom likes to say she likes her food hot. My excuse as a child was I was always hungry and usually had something better to do besides sit at the table with my family.
Now I’m all grown up and taking a few minutes to enjoy my meal and appreciate the people I’m eating with actually has some appeal. Eating too fast is also one of the factors that makes me eat too much. So today since I’m in no rush I will chew my food.

Adventures of the Unknown Recipe- Bacon, Cheese & Tomato Crescents

I pulled this recipe from a spring 2008 Kraft publication. You can also find it on-line here at Kraft.com. I told my husband about the recipe before I tried it. He thought that strawberries would go better with cream cheese and a flaky crust than bacon and cheese. To humor him I agreed to try a couple with raspberry jam and cream cheese as we didn’t have any strawberries. It turned out he was right. The jam crescents were way better than the ones that followed the recipe. They also were a lot messier and stuck to the pan where the jam oozed out. A few fixes with the dough could cure that. I may try the jam version again, but the recipe as is was just ok.

Today’s Serving-Drink a glass of milk before dinner.

This does two things. It helps me get 1/3 of my daily calcium needs and helps fill me up with something healthy before dinner. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to kick in and make you feel full. Drinking the milk as I prepare dinner gives me the head start on the 20 minutes and keeps me from scarfing down when I sit at the table.

Today’s Serving- Do 100 sit-ups everyday

I have had trouble with back pain ever since I was a kid. I have found that doing daily sit ups is the best way to prevent back pain. It keeps my core strong and stretches my back as well.

To accomplish this goal I have to get over with first thing in the morning before I do anything else. When motivation is low I just have to remember the excruciating pain that I could be in if I don’t keep it up.

I'm Just Saying- My Big Goals

So what are these big goals? In no particular order:

1) Be healthy
2) Feel confident in my own skin
3) Be Happy
4) Have romance and love in my life
5) Have healthy and strong friendships
6) Learn to take great photos
7) Be an amazing cook
8) Be a great baker
9) Have a home that I love
10) Control my stress
11) Be a good warm person
12) Explore my spirituality

Can you see why I need to break things down! I have so much I want to accomplish! One thing I also have to rember is that as life goes on goals change and need to be flexible.