Workout Motivation

     After dropping my oldest off at school today I came back to the apartment to start my daily routine. I did the morning dishes, got my youngest the first of what would no doubt be many snacks, swept, picked up, etc. I no doubt mumbled something to myself about squeezing in the morning "exercises". That's what my girls call basically any workout so we roll with it.

     I'm like most people and I have a hard time finding motivation to do my workouts. I know I need to, I mean fat doesn't burn itself! Inevitably though I can always find something else to do. Often that something else is just as critical as a daily workout, so skipping it is easily justified. There are never enough hours in the day. I don't need to tell you that.

     So as I came into the living room after cleaning up in the kitchen I was taken aback to see my youngest on the floor with one of my Pilates mats. "Buggy, what are you doing", I asked. To which she replied, "Nut (nothing) just doing my extersize".

 

     Her form left a little to be desired, but her enthusiasm could not be beat. Alright! I don't need to be hit over the head with a 2 x 4 to see the sign here.

     I had been feeling down on myself because my current workout was no longer achieving what I wanted it to achieve. Lo and behold...a simplicity lesson. My workouts had achieved something else. They had instilled in my daughter a fondness for the activity, at the very least not a dying hatred for it like so many of us have. It was nothing to be scheduled around, it was fun. It even required the use of it's own mat! Simplicity and happiness all in one.

    Beyond even that I had, inadvertently, planted a fitness seed I didn't even intend to plant. One that makes physical activity part of a daily structure. One that also happens to be fun. Ok, so now I had a new goal.

     Now my goal is to hit each of my workouts with just as much enthusiasm as she had and continue to propagate that seed. By jingo, I will not only make this a lifestyle component in my life, but just maybe in the lives of my daughters as well. Maybe I can teach them to be healthy and have fun, to demonstrate the importance of physical fitness as opposed to constantly monitoring weight and arbitrary numbers. Heck, apparently I already have.

 

     Of course, when she had finished this tiresome workout a whole 3 minutes later, she flopped her legs down and said, "Mommy, my belly hurt good". "That means you're doing it right. Good job!", I said. Then she smile and did another set, and I rolled out my mat, with nothing else to possibly complain about, and did my extersizes too!

To fitness and hidden lessons...for all of us!

Simple City Sam

Etsy Discount!!

     Easter is right around the corner (3/31/13) and spring has sprung as far as I'm concerned...so lets get this ball rolling.

For all my FB and blog followers: 10% off all Plush items at our Etsy store from now until Easter.

Get those cute spring ducks while they last (Kitties and Pumpkins too, and anything else we manage to get up between now and then)!!!

Use coupon code: SPRING2013

Visit the Simple City Sam Etsy store now!!!

As always thank you very much for the support. And please remember to follow us by joining here and liking Simple City Sam on Facebook.

Simple City Sam

Toad In The Hole

     Well we will be setting all our clocks ahead tonight, which in mind mind means spring is basically here. I refuse to believe anything but this notion. Being that we will all wake up tomorrow, fooled into thinking we've been allowed to sleep in, I think we will celebrate. We will be making one of our favorite breakfasts: Toad in the Hole.

     I honestly can't tell you why, but Toad in the Hole always reminds me of spring. Sure we'll make it periodically all year but there's nothing like a springtime toad! Like always, this one is simple. My hubby made some fresh bread the other day so these toads will be even better.

     Use a cookie cutter, ring mold, or even a knife and cut out the center of each slice of bread. Place the slices and their centers on a hot, greased griddle or pan. We use butter because the end result is amazing...which is probably why we all eat too much butter...but use what works for you.

     Then crack and drop one egg into each hole. You are essentially making a fried egg and a piece of toast all at once. After a few minutes, flip your toad and let the other side cook. The toast should be golden and crispy. The egg whites should be visibly cooked and adhered to the toast. When you break the yolk it should ooze out slowly, marrying perfectly with your beautifully buttered toast.

 

     We serve one Toad per person and usually serve it with a side of fresh fruit or berries. It's nothing outrageously fancy but it really is delicious. It has always been one of my favorites and now my girls love it too. I've heard Toad in the Holes called many other names, but I grew up with this name and like it best! So toads it shall be in the morning for a nice little treat.

I'm hoping this toad will spring us right on out of winter once and for all.

Simple City Sam

Chicken Soup With Rice

     Another cold and rainy/snowy day here means a bit more comfort food is in order. It also means that I've spent nearly ALL energy I had in reserve already on rainy/snowy days this winter. So I'm making this an easy installment of comfort food.

     I've grabbed one of the frozen Chicken Soups that I have in the deep freeze. It is so gratifying to have homemade, local, organic food at your fingertips!! In the immortal words of Col. Hannibal Smith, "I love it when a plan comes together."

     I let it thaw a bit in the refrigerator throughout the day. Then I put it on the stove, low, to let it warm slowly. I also started a pot of water for rice. Rice is one of those pantry items I always have on hand. I made 2 servings, you don't need much. It's an addition to the meal not a full, separate component.

     I like to make the rice on it's own and then add it to the soup that is nearly ready. This way you don't need to wait as long for the soup to heat itself AND cook the rice. Also, this method allows you to make sure the rice is done before adding it to the soup. When it's cooking in the soup it can be a bit of a guessing game. Once the rice is almost completely done I add it to the soup and give it another 5 minutes.

     After the 5 minutes, the rice will be perfect and it will have been infused with all that amazing Chicken Soup flavor. This soup is absolutely brilliant! Last time I made it my oldest threw a fit because we ran out. Obnoxious yes, but also gratifying to know she likes good food so much!

 

     Of course, I can't do much of anything without music- or more appropriately, without singing- it's a family thing! So I spent all day while this was cooking and later while we ate it, singing, "Chicken Soup with Rice".

     So remember to keep your hands on your bowl because, "In March the wind blows down the door. And spills [your] soup upon the floor."

Simple City Sam

Sewing Nook

     Part 2 of my massive room re-organizing was my new sewing nook. This is the part that I'm super excited for. About 18 months ago I creatively acquired (reappropriated?) and antique sewing machine desk that my grandmother had put in the yard sale pile. Ok, I just plain old took it...I did ask first so it's all good. This thing is a beaut! It's a Singer from 1948 and I was thrilled to find a box in one of the drawers containing the original manual, spare parts, bobbins, and a button holer and manual. I was able to look up the year using the machine's serial number and the Singer website.

     We brought it to a professional in this sort of thing to be cleaned and tuned up. After that I was ready to get sewing. It took a bit of learning and a lot of reading through the manual. To be honest, after having it back for a whole 4 days I'm still not 100% with the machine. I'm ok with that though, I like the challenge of learning something new, and I LOVE the fact that it is an antique and still getting the job done.

     In any event, the machine needed a home and a functional one at that. That brings us full circle to my new sewing nook. It's right next to my new dressing area but I still have more than enough space. Now everything is neat and tidy, visible and accessible.

 

     We hung 2 shelves on the wall for more storage. I made sure to hang them at a height that I could reach but also at a height that I wouldn't hit my head on and that the kids and animals wouldn't be able to access. On these shelves I placed all my crafting supplies like beads, hot glue guns, ribbon, etc. Into the drawers of the sewing desk I was able to store sewing supplies like thread, bobbins, patterns, and the like. All of my plastic totes full of fabric stacked neatly next to the desk and offered a much more sturdy surface for the desk top to rest on than the folding arm it has standard.

 

     Keeping the shelves tidy was a priority too. I collected all the left over glass jars,  that were full of candy as wedding favors at my brother's wedding, and have been storing them ever since. I put them into service by sorting and storing small beads in them. I also used small mason jars for buttons and small odds and ends. It all worked like a charm and didn't cost a thing! The shelves themselves (ha! rhyming) cost roughly $15 and everything else was already in my possession.

     The sewing desk is right in front of a window and gets tons of natural light! Everything is neat and organized. I have the ability now to work efficiently which aids in my creativity. I could not be happier. Oddly, even though there are more items in the room now, it feels bigger and more open.

A couple of hooks, a 6' board of 1x8 cut to shelves and a little work have completely simplified my dressing and sewing spaces (for a combined total of about $33). That's simple city living!

Simple City Sam

Wall Vanity

     Yesterday I put in some hard hours re-organizing my room so that I would have a sewing nook (you'll see that later) and a user friendly dressing area. Below you can see how I made out. I am so happy with the results.

     I had already moved a large trunk from the right side of this photo, just under my window. It has been moved to the other side of the room and it fits much better. Here you can see that the sewing table and dresser were just stuck next to each other awkwardly. The mirror was on a long wall, but was also out on it's own. The jewelry cabinet standing at the left is bulky and broken- in truth I've been dying to get rid of it for a while. I rarely even get to wear the jewelry in it because digging through the cabinet is a pain.

     To replace the jewelry closet and rectify the terrible mirror placement I decided to create a wall hung "vanity" of sorts. Obviously here in the city, we have limited space in our current apartment. I needed to make more space, not less. I saw someone use the empty picture frames as jewelry displays but they were just hung on a wall,  sort of on their own too. My goal was to integrate them in to the design of the vanity and actually make the whole thing functional.

     We hung the mirror, centered, directly over the dresser. Then on either side we hung a picture frame. Above the short one I finished off the space with a gorgeous wood carving we bought on our honeymoon and means a great deal to me. Above the long one we hung two, short and shallow shelves. We used a cut piece of 1x8 and mounted it with adjustable brackets. There I can now lay out bulky bracelets and watches.

     After hanging the frame I screwed in small "C-hooks" in a staggered pattern to be able to hang as many necklaces as possible. I also placed a few near the bottom to hang some more bracelets.

 

     Now I have an organized jewelry vanity with a huge mirror that takes up a quarter of the space that these items did before. I can easily access all of my clothes as well as my jewelry. The cat can no longer climb the jewelry cabinet, destroying pieces as he goes. I can pick and choose with ease as it is nearly all visible. And of course the best part is how cost effective it was. The frames were salvaged from my grandmother's basement and cleaned up with hot soap and water. The shelves, brackets and hooks cost roughly $18 and all other items were already in the room.

Peace of mind, organization, efficiency, and jewelry on display...worth WAY more than $18. That's what I call simplicity and happiness all in one!

Simple City Sam

    

Veggie Cream Cheese

     Oh boy! We made bagels again this weekend. In fact, we experimented with a new recipe we are trying to perfect. I'm sure it will make it's way here eventually. Today, though, I decided that if I were going to be eating bagels again, I'd make them "healthier".

     Of course this notion is comical. I still ate the bagel, that doesn't get any healthier (but it is worth every single calorie) and I still topped it with cream cheese. In my opinion a bagel can not reach it's full greatness without cream cheese. The cream cheese is where I decided to make my improvement. Veggie it would be!

     Veggie cream cheese is a great way to sneak some veggies into a place where they don't typically get to be. Naturally I prefer homemade. The pre-made veggie cream cheese tastes so artificial and processed. Not only does the cream cheese cease to taste like any sort of cream cheese, but none of the so-call vegetables actually resemble the vegetables they are alleged to be. I can't stand it. Really, how can a carrot be made to taste so funky and almost plastic?! Homemade is much less expensive too.

     I still buy the off-brand cream cheese. I will scoop out the desired amount and make only enough for that one sitting. I am the only one in the house usually who will eat it so I'll only make a couple of tablespoons at a time. Already this saves money, I don't have to waste a tub of pre-made because I don't eat it all, nor do I have to waste a bunch of veggies and cream cheese making a huge batch.

     I finely chopped (though you could use a grater instead) the small end of a peeled carrot, half a thin slice of red onion and large pinch of mixed spring greens. It really doesn't take much at all. After my ingredients were ready I added them to the bowl with my cream cheese and mixed it up.

     All done. Super simple, super cost effective and probably the best veggie cream cheese in the city (if I do say so myself). The best part is that I can vary my veggie cream cheese seasonally. When I have my summer garden in full swing I'll be able to make one with red and green peppers and onion, or chives and dill, or maybe even chili peppers and kale. The sky is the limit.

 

It was so delicious I let myself have two bagels (and an extra long workout)!

Simple City Sam