Coming to You Live From Chicago!

June 2, 2014 / ktbuchs87

Hello from Chicago! My husband, Adam, and I are finally living in the Windy City. We moved into our apartment a little over a week ago and have settled in these past few days. We have really enjoyed getting to explore our new neighborhood and learn where everything is. Every morning we head out to the Chicago Lakefront Trail and ride up and down enjoying the beaches and parks all along the way. The city has so much to offer us and we are very excited to take full advantage.

This move was the most stressful move for me that we’ve ever done. All our other moves were of a smaller scale, as in we would just move down the street or at least within the same town. We didn’t have to rent a truck, figure out a new city, leave our job, or worry about where to run outside (ok, that last one is just me!). I admitted to Adam yesterday as we were walking around outside, that while I was ok with moving for his new job, I had been absolutely terrified to move to Chicago. I was afraid that I would hate everything about city living. All the people, cramped spaces, a smaller apartment, a grocery store I didn’t know, unfamiliar streets, higher cost on everything, and no concrete job position for me. I was truly worried that I was not made to live in a more urban area and that I would quickly isolate myself with my cat in my apartment. I knew in my head that moving here was the best decision for us, but I just couldn’t convince my heart that was true.

This wasn’t even totally full yet. Thank goodness Adam is a Tetris champ!

One of my biggest problems is that I tend to internalize my stress and worries instead of sharing them. I bottle up my feelings and soldier on because I feel like that is what I should do. No one needs to carry the burden of my problems other than me. Of course that is ridiculous. No one can keep all of their problems to themselves without breaking under the pressure at some point. By keeping all my worries to myself, I negatively impacted my health. I developed a cold a few days before our move and I am still getting over it. A few weeks before the move, my knee started to hurt so bad that I could no longer run on it. I still have not been able to run, and I am trying my hardest to rest and let it heal. During the actual move, I lost my appetite and didn’t eat the same healthy meals that I normally make and I also didn’t drink as much water as I normally do. All of these things added up to me feeling crummy and that is not how you want to feel when you have to move. I felt weak and could barely help Adam move and load our boxes. I felt exhausted during the day and wanted nothing more than to take long naps all day. Even my face started to break out. Health wise, I was pretty much a wreck.

Bedroom. Haven’t done much to this room other than put our stuff in it. We’ll get to it soon….

If you go back and read my other posts about moving, you’ll probably notice a similar theme. I start to stress, keep it to myself, and my health turns into a mess. Why can’t I seem to get my act together and why do I keep telling you about it? I am not perfect, far from it, in fact. Even though I enjoy being healthy and do my best to do all the things I know make me feel and look my best, I still fail from time to time. I know that many of you feel that becoming healthier is really hard and you get frustrated when you fail. I am the same way. I am slowly learning though that being healthy isn’t about being perfect 100% of the time.

It’s ok to fail or not do something as well as you had hoped. It isn’t how you fail that defines your health, it’s how you deal with the fallout. Rather than wallow in your shortcomings and quit, pick yourself up and get right back in the game. Use that experience to help shape your healthy journey in a positive way. Learn from your mistakes and when the same obstacle arises next time you will be able to overcome it. I am getting better at being ok with my imperfections and knowing that my overall health is more important that the tiny little things I do everyday. As long as you are working towards being healthy and the majority of your choices and decisions are good ones, I promise you that your health will be just fine. One setback every now and then is not going to totally derail all the hard work you have done.

Tiny kitchen, but I make it work!

While I am hoping that I won’t have to move for a long time (I would love to live in an apartment for more than one leasing period!), I know that this move has taught me so much for the next one. I am also happy to say that I absolutely LOVE living in Chicago. All my fears and doubts are gone and I am relishing living in a new area. It is exactly what Adam and I needed to continue to grow in our lives and in our relationship. We had gotten all that we could from our previous area and it was time to move on. Now big things are in store for the next chapter of our life and I can not wait to get started!

Shot of the living room/office and the dining room. This is where most of our attention has been focused for the time being!

Mac N’ Greens

May 16, 2014 / ktbuchs87

In one week, Adam and I will officially live in Chicago. Technically our lease started yesterday but we won’t be moving until next Thursday. This move has come really fast and while I still have a to do list a mile long, I don’t feel as stressed as I usually do when we move. Although that could all change in an instant, talk to me next week! This will probably be my last post for a few weeks while we get everything moved and settled in our new place. Once we’re in Chicago though my blogging will be much more regular and there will be some changes happening to the site! Excited for all the new things that we are going to do and experience in the next few weeks!

This meal is a quick and easy meal to throw together and it makes a lot of leftovers. It’s kind of the perfect meal to make when you’re moving to a new city…

Mac N’ Greens

1 package of pasta (I used brown rice pasta to keep it gluten free. Whole wheat would be good too)
1 bag of frozen kale or spinach, thawed (could also use fresh and whatever green you want like collard or mustard)
Olive oil
1 onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup raw cashews
1 3/4 cup vegetable broth or water
1 1/2 cup cooked cannellini beans (or 1 can)
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp brown mustard

1. If you’re using dried beans, soak them overnight, then drain and rinse them and cook them on the stove for about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.

2. Make sure your greens are completely thawed. If you are using fresh, chop them up and set aside. Cook your pasta according to the directions on the package. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and set aside.

3. In a medium skillet saute the onions in olive oil for about 5 to 7 minutes until they are soft. Add in the garlic and saute for another minute or two.

4. In a blender or food processor, grind the cashews until they are a fine powder. Add in about 1 cup of the broth or water and blend until smooth. Add in the onions and garlic, beans, lemon juice, and mustard. Combine until smooth and add in salt and pepper to taste.

5. In a large pot, combine the pasta and greens until fully mixed together. Pour the sauce into the pot and heat over medium heat until everything is warmed through.

Enjoy your delicious and nutritious pasta dish, and I’ll see you in Chicago!

Health Reminders

May 5, 2014 / ktbuchs87

I think that we can all agree and say that no one is perfect, especially when it comes to health. Even celebrities and fitness trainers and those in the health world have their imperfect moments no matter how healthy they seem. As we move from winter into spring, I thought it would be a good idea to give a few tips and reminders about your health. You can call it spring cleaning if you’d like, but take just a few moments and assess your lifestyle and make sure you’re getting the most out of your healthy journey.

1. Water, water, WATER!!! This was the biggest reminder for me lately. I had been really good about drinking a lot of water heading into the winter months, but as it got colder and colder, water seemed less appealing to me. I pretty much stopped drinking any extra water January through February and boy could my body tell! I was tired, sluggish, and just had an overall lack of energy. I attributed it to the long, cold winter months but in all honesty, part of it was my lack of water consumption. Now I have a 1 liter water bottle that I keep with me and try to drink one if not more of those per day. I’m not going to tell you some specific amount of water that you have to drink in order to be healthy, just make sure to drink enough where you don’t feel water-logged or too thirsty. It really helps to keep a refillable bottle with you at all times and just sip throughout the day. Don’t like the taste of just plain water? Try adding lemon or lime for a little flavor!

2. Eat Seasonally. Many of us can get any fruit or vegetable that we want at any time of the year, whether it is in season or not. This isn’t a bad thing, believe me, I have my fair share of out of season food all the time (hello sweet potatoes!). I’m not saying you have to eat only foods that are in season, but it does make a difference. For example, I had been roasting up a whole butternut squash over the fall/winter months and using that in meals throughout the week. I started to notice though that around the end of January and into February, the butternut squash didn’t taste as good as it had before, the selection was getting smaller, and the price was getting higher. Take a look at the food you regularly prepare and see if there are any seasonal changes that you can make. Check out your local grocery store and see what produce they have on sale or look at a list of seasonal foods and pick something new to work with. Eating seasonally is a great way to keep your diet varied, eat the most nutrient dense food possible, and spend your money smartly.

3. Get Some Sun. Most of us stay squirreled away in our homes during the winter months, trying to stay as warm and cozy as possible. This past winter was a doozy, and if I could avoid it I stayed away from the great outdoors as much as possible. When I did have to venture out into the tundra, I was so bundled up that only a slit for my eyes was all that was exposed to the air. With the warmer weather, it’s time to get some outside time in! You don’t have to spend a ton of time outside, but even 10 minutes in the fresh air will do you wonders. Take a bike ride, go for a walk, read a book on a park bench, do your workout outside if you can, or play with your dog. It’s time to soak up some vitamin D, breath in the fresh air, and rejoice in the fact that you no longer have to wear 50 layers to walk the ten feet to your car!

4. Clear the Clutter. I’m a weirdo who actually loves cleaning. I am very type A when it comes to my apartment and how clean it is. I hate clutter and junk lying around and I hate when something doesn’t have a place. With our impending move, I have gone into hyperdrive with clearing out the clutter. I already dislike packing, so there is no way that I am packing AND moving junk that I don’t even need or use. It has been shocking to me just how much “stuff” Adam and I have lying around that we don’t even actually use. It has been great to go through and get rid of all the superfluous stuff and pare down to the essentials. I’m going to bet that some of you might have a few things lying around that you could get rid of too. Take a few minutes and just go through one room and see if there is anything that you don’t need that you could donate/sell/toss. Trust me, you will feel a lot better when you’ve “cleared the air” and gotten rid of the extra stuff.

These are just a few of the things that I have reminded myself about lately. Hopefully one or two of them helped you out. Take a few moments and look at your life and see what little tweaks or changes you can make to get the most out of your healthy lifestyle. It’s always a good idea to reassess how things are going and make sure that everything is still making a positive impact on you. Have a great Monday and a fabulous week!

Dairy Free Lasagna

May 2, 2014February 19, 2015 / ktbuchs87 / 1 Comment

I don’t eat dairy anymore, and for the most part, I really haven’t missed it all that much. But every once in awhile, I get a hankering for something gooey, cheesy, and delicious. Those hankerings usually lead to creative and tasty recipes. This one is no different. You might be thinking to yourself, “There is no way that you can have a delicious lasagna without wonderfully yummy ricotta cheese.” And I say to you, nay nay. You can have a delicious lasagna without wonderfully yummy ricotta. Just ask my husband who has no problem with dairy and would love it if there were more of it in the house (there’s none). He loved this meal and devoured second helpings. I may have too…

Dairy Free Lasagna

1 batch of my tomato sauce, or store bought sauce (just make sure to read the ingredients!)
1 package of lasagna noodles (I used brown rice to keep it gluten free but whole wheat would work well too)
1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water overnight
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp rice vinegar
1 to 2 tsp italian seasoning
1 to 2 cloves garlic

*If you’re using my tomato sauce, you can prepare it ahead of time and store in the refrigerator. That way you can just assemble everything.

1. Cook noodles according to instructions on the package. Once cooked drain and set aside to cool a little bit. You might want to undercook your noodles just a little so they won’t turn to mush when you cook them in the oven.

2. While the noodles are cooling, drain soaked cashews and place into a blender or food processor. Add in water, lemon, salt, rice vinegar, italian seasoning, and garlic. Pulse to combine everything and then let it run to smooth everything out. You can leave it a little chunky or totally smooth, it’s your preference.

3. Preheat oven to 375 and get out a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Line up the tomato sauce, noodles, and cashew cheese for easy assembly. Pour a little tomato sauce on the bottom of the pan so the noodles don’t burn. Then put a layer of noodles down, then a layer of cheese, and finally a layer of tomato sauce. Keep layering everything until you run out of noodles. You might have a little cheese and sauce leftover, that’s fine You can use it to dress up another dish!

4. Cover lasagna with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and take of the aluminum foil. Place back in the oven for another 5 minutes. Take lasagna out of the oven and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes (this helps it set so when you cut it, it doesn’t fall apart). Cut into squares and eat up!

This lasagna tastes even better the next day once the flavors have melded and really set. So make sure that you leave some leftovers for later!

Judging Or Too Accepting?

April 28, 2014 / ktbuchs87 / 2 Comments

Shocking to see me with a blog post on a Monday! It’s been awhile and life has been crazy, but I wanted to give you guys a regular post and not just a recipe this week.

Todays post will be more along the lines of me thinking out loud and asking for your opinion on a certain matter. Kind of a Monday musings if you will. Here is the question I have been wondering over the past few days: why do we feel more comfortable telling a skinny or thin person to go eat a cheeseburger than telling an overweight person that they need to eat less or go on a diet? I know that I am just as guilty of this as the next person. I am totally ok with telling someone (usually a friend or someone I know and in a joking manner) that they should go eat some food, but I would never dream of telling someone in that same way that they need to stop eating so much or go on a diet.

Let me clarify. In a totally professional realm where someone is coming to me to seek help and guidance about becoming healthier, I would have no problem steering them in the way of eating better and moving more. You know that I am a huge proponent of finding what works for you health wise and I am passionate about helping others find what that means to them. But to just walk up to someone who is overweight and tell them to go on a diet? No way. Not only would I think that’s rude, others would probably deem me as an awful or cruel person. But when you turn the tables and you’re telling someone they are too thin and need to eat more food? I feel like that is a whole different ball game. Suddenly, you are doing that person a favor. You are worried about their health and are only trying to help. Why does the size of the person make all the difference when it comes to what you say?

Now I understand that this feeling doesn’t apply to everyone. Maybe you are someone who has no problem telling anyone that they need to eat more or less. Maybe you feel like one isn’t taboo while the other is totally acceptable. Maybe I am making a much bigger deal out of this than I need to.

I think my biggest issue with this is that I know that comments like this can hurt the self esteem of the person in question, small, big, or medium size. Rather than telling someone what they need to do more or less of, we should be trying to find the best way to help or support them. We shouldn’t be judging people on their size any way, we have no idea where they are coming from. We don’t know if they have already lost 100 pounds and are in the middle of their weight loss journey. We don’t know if they are training for a competition and despite their small size could pick you up and throw you over their shoulder and carry you 200 feet. We can’t tell those things by just looking at someone. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, right?

A more controversial part of me thinks that perhaps we are too accepting of bad health and that’s why we feel more comfortable telling someone to eat more rather than less. There is no question that Americans are dealing with obesity and all the diseases and symptoms that come along with that. We are very good at treating the problems and issues that occur along with being unhealthy or overweight, but we for some reason can’t get to the root of the problem and stop it before it becomes a major issue. Maybe that’s because we all feel it isn’t ok to try and address people directly. I’m not talking about in a cruel, derogatory, or rude manner, but coming from a place of truly wanting to help someone live healthier and approaching them in a loving and compassionate way. I am in no way advocating that we just start walking up to random people and telling them they need to get healthier. I do advocate trying to get the message out that it is possible for everyone to be the healthiest version of themselves. I also advocate that we don’t all need to be the same size or shape to be healthy and we should celebrate the fact that we are all different and unique in our own ways.

I know that society dictates a lot of how we feel or think about certain things. Unfortunately as much as I try to avoid that and form my own opinions and feelings on certain issues, I am just as susceptible to the popular opinion. Fortunately, as I grow older and learn more and more about myself and what it means to be healthy, I am finding that I really want to try and help change the views of society when it comes to issues like this. Will I be able to do it all on my own? No. But one voice in the crowd is better than no voice at all.

Let’s hear from you guys. What are your thoughts and musings on this issue? Do you think it is as big a problem or do you feel I am making a mountain out of mole hill? I would love to hear from you on this one!

Have a great Monday everyone!