Recreation

A wise relative recently reminded me that I needed to take time for myself, even for 5 minutes.  "The point of recreation (i.e., 'play' and playtime) is to literally "re-create" yourself--that is, re-energize and rebuild and reconstruct." (Thanks UP) And if you go to the link, you will see that Webster's agrees with him, naturally.  I have been ruminating about this since I read it.  I know that I need time for myself.  Like, I know it in my head.  I even give this advice to others.  I need to do this for myself.  But I usually think that I need a large chunk of time for myself, which frankly, is impossible.  So I started thinking about the things I do that help me re-energize.  How can I make more time for myself for the things I like to do?  

Walking has always beens my "me" time.  I need to and will make more time to do this, as my feet feel better.  That is not a quick 5 minutes but I have been making it more of a priority.  I would love to take a yoga class somewhere, but since that is not a feasible option right now, I can do a dvd.  Again, not a quick 5 minutes, but I don't have to leave the house.  I try to check in once a day on my Lose It forums so that I can keep myself motivated and accountable.  But what else can I do that would be considered recreation?  

I am slightly completely obsessed with Pinterest. I love cooking and baking and I totally love being crafty.  Homemade Pumpkin Creamer?  Yes please!  Pumpkin Crunch cake? Delicious! Cupcakes that look like witch hats?  I am so on that!  Do you detect the autumnal theme here?  My time on Pinterest is often spent looking at things that are knit, crocheted or quilted.  I have been practicing my knitting some.  My MIL taught me the basics but I have not graduated to a pattern yet.  I have a feeling I will turn back to crocheting.  Add the 2nd needle and I start getting so confused.   I have lots of wonderful Christmas gift ideas for my nieces and nephews now and I am itching to start sewing again.

What is my point?  I realized that sometimes I am doing activities that re-energize and re-charge me.   Maybe I just need to recognize them as such.  Spending time on Pinterest with my evening cup of tea could sometimes feel like a waste of time.  Perhaps  in labeling my Pinterest-ing and resultant baking as "me" time will help me actually do it without feeling guilty and not put it off for something that is NOT re-energizing.  Like scrubbing the bathroom.  Unless of course I have made homemade bathroom cleanser. (It works, by the way.)  Maybe I need to look at things I do in a different light.  After all, if I looked at walking the dog as a chore it certainly would be one.  But I look at it as more me-time, and so I enjoy it.

For this upcoming week I hope that we can all do this:  put at least 5 minutes aside each day, just for you.  Unplug.  Unwind.  Re-energize.  Re-create yourself.

cooking again

I really like to cook.  I really LOVE to bake.  If you have read the last few posts then you may have realized that I am going through a tough time right now; one of the valleys in the hills and valleys of life.  One of the things I had lost as I was driving down that hill was my ability to cook.  Mentally, I just did not have it in me.  Yes, I could through some quick meals together, but I was not cooking.

Cooking is emotional.  It has to be, because food and eating food is emotional.  I think back to when I was a kid and conjure up an image of a chef.  He was quick-tempered and moody.  And he was a he.  Unless she was Julia Child.  Of course this was all before the food network.  But that was what I thought a chef was like.

Yesterday when the reality of the crazy Nor'easter was hitting me I decided to get some ingredients to cook, just in case I felt like I could.  I was not able to do so yesterday.  I wasn't ready.

But today I was.  Today I made meatballs and homemade tomato sauce.  Watching Lilly eat all her meatballs made my heart happy.  I also made butternut squash and apple soup.  Lilly won't eat that but my mom will.  It has a touch too much salt but otherwise it is divine.  It is just such a fall-ish dish and it was a cold day.  With snow on the ground.  In October!

I'm not baking yet, but I am cooking.  I'll take it!

recipes to follow...

My first homemade pie

Look at how plump those berries are!

My mom reminded me that I used to help her all the time, but this was my first completely from scratch pie.  Well, I did have a little help from Lilly!  I was going to make it for our bbq on Saturday but I did not want to rush myself and we were short on time as it was.  I was prompted to make this pie because of the gorgeous blueberry harvest this year.  NJ is the blueberry capital of the world, or if it is not, it seems that way!  Here is an interesting article recently published about NJ blueberries.  This year's blueberries are plump, sweet and firm.  I think between the three of us we are going through a pint a day.  This week at our local grocery store they were 4 pints for  $5 making it an even sweeter deal!

Isn't it pretty?

I decided to use Martha Stewart's recipe from the Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook.  The crust proved to be easier than I expected.  There were a few little things that happened this time with the rolling out that I can learn from for next time.  And the filling, well that was just as easy as...pie!  I even used a star cookie cutter for that 4th of July decorative touch.  The pie itself was scrumptious!  But seriously, the blueberries were the real stars and I could just taste how delicious they were with every bite.  The crust was flaky and light and did not compete with the filling.  Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and served still warm....it was heaven!

et cetera

Lilly is napping and I think I am going to take one, too. It has been a tough several nights with the Lillybug. At least now I know why she has been so cranky, besides the usually toddler stuff. She has an ear infection. I am hoping that this warm weather stays and just blasts out all the germs that have been hanging around all winter.

So my endocrinologist visit came and went...all my hormones check out normal. Okay, so what does that mean for me? I need to work really, really hard to lose weight and keep it off. Basically, in a nut shell, that is the deal. Fabulous.

I went grocery shopping today and saved 26%. I'm pretty excited about that. That is a lot of money. Now I just have to use what I purchased to make goodies for Easter dinner. THey are totally the opposite of WW foods! I am making the pineapple stuffing to go with the ham. Yum. And Ina Garten's Carrot Cake. Yum Yum! I am going to have to say no to leftovers. I honestly think leftovers are what kills me on holidays. At the meal I am okay. But give me stuff to take home and it is gone by morning. Since it is supposed to be a beautiful weekend maybe I can sneak a walk in there, too.