Friday Favorites: Christmas Edition

December 19, 2014December 19, 2014 / ktbuchs87

I haven’t done a Friday Favorites in a while and I think with the rush of the season it’s a good day to let you in on some of my favorite Christmas-y things.

CHRISTMAS!!!

I don’t care if I’m 27 years old, I still get as excited as a small child about Christmas. Fall may be my favorite season, but without a doubt Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love all of the traditions that come along with this holiday. I love the gathering of friends and family. I love the food and treats that only come along this time of year. I love all the shows and specials and movies that come on TV around this time. I love walking outside right around twilight with a light snow falling. As cheesy as it may sound there really is something magical about Christmas. I still wake up at 4 am on Christmas morning and sneak downstairs to look at the tree and the stockings and take in the beauty of the day. I know that some people can’t stand this time of year. They don’t like the commercialism of the season, they don’t like the rush of activity, and the never ending list of things to do. But I think if we can all remember that feeling of magic that comes very early on Christmas morning and the true gift that we were given, just maybe we can all enjoy Christmas just a little more.

Special Treats

I mentioned before that I love the food that comes along with this season. I actually love food, but I really like the seasonal treats that pop up. Things like eggnog, cookies, and hot chocolate are amazing. I have actually been slowly working through some of my favorite childhood treats and making them a little healthier so that I can enjoy them once again. Some of my favorite “re-dos” have been eggnog and hot chocolate. I also like this version of mexican wedding cakes and I have been working on a healthier chocolate covered peanut butter balls. It’s fun to find new ways to enjoy treats that I didn’t think I could. Plus it’s nice to join in with everyone else and enjoy a cookie or two!

My Cranberry Sauce

I know, another food thing. I like to eat! But seriously I can’t get enough of this cranberry sauce. I put it on everything and sometimes just eat it with a spoon for a snack. It is the perfect combo of sweet/tart/spicy/awesome. If you haven’t made it yet, go to your kitchen immediately. I’m serious. Go.

Downtown

My family has a tradition of going downtown each Christmas. We go to the Christkindl market, look at the windows at Marshall’s, go out to eat, and just take in all the Christmas sights. Now that I live in Chicago, I can go walk around downtown whenever I want and it still hasn’t lost it’s appeal. I like seeing all the lights and decorations and people. I have gone a few time this year and just walked up and down the mag mile. Maybe I’m weird, but I just like being out and about during this time of year even if I have nothing to do. I told you I love Christmas, and I really do love everything about it! This weekend we’re actually heading downtown for our “official” trip and to celebrate my sister’s birthday. I can’t wait!

Christmas Movies

Who doesn’t like Christmas movies? There are so many good ones, but a few of my top ones are Elf, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Santa Clause, Scrooged, and Santa Clause is Coming to Town. There are a million more and I probably own half of them. When Adam and I celebrate our own little Christmas we spend the day opening presents, eating appetizers, and watching all of our movies. It’s one of my favorite new traditions that we started when we got married.

I know this was kind of a personal Christmas edition of Friday Favorites, but I wanted to help spread some Christmas cheer. Of course I could just take Buddy the Elf’s advice and sing loud for all to hear! I’m going to be taking a little break from regular blog posts until after the new year so I can enjoy this time with my family. So until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

How To Stay Active In Winter

December 17, 2014December 17, 2014 / ktbuchs87

Winter is the perfect combination of situations to keep you from being active. It’s cold and possibly snowy where you live, the days are shorter and it gets dark by 4 pm. Plus there are a slew of holidays that take up your time and energy leaving you feeling exhausted by the end of the day. It’s so easy to abandon your normal healthy activities and do what you can to keep up with everything. Even once the holidays are over, the weather makes you want to wrap up in a blanket and never leave your couch.

While it is so tempting to put your workouts on hold during these months, it’s really important to keep up with your exercise during this time. Taking too long of a break will make it that much harder to jump back on the wagon come spring time. The winter months are a good time to switch your exercises routine up and keep up with your health. Here are a few tips to keep you moving during the cold and dreary months of winter.

Change it up

If you have been running outside or doing other outdoor activities, it might be a little more difficult to keep up with them during the winter. While you still can workout outside (I might have been the crazy person running in sub-zero temps last winter….) this is a great time to try something new. Many gyms are offering new classes as well as discounted deals at this time of year. Some gyms even allow you to try out a new class for a low price so you can check out a few and see what you like before spending a lot of money. If you don’t want to spend any money, check out online workouts. I am a huge fan of Fitness Blender. They are a husband and wife team that offer hundreds of free workouts on YouTube. They have all different types of workouts for all fitness levels. Either way, there are plenty of indoor activities you can do to keep you out of the harsh weather.

Grab a buddy

Look at how happy winter and working out with a friend makes you!

One of the most popular resolutions at this time of year is to be healthier. If you have a friend who made this resolution, invite them along to your workouts. This not only helps them with their goals, but it can keep you accountable as well. Now you have someone relying on you and that makes you much more likely to go and do your workout. Plus it’s more fun to have someone working out with you!

Have winter fun

There are a lot of winter activities that are great workouts. Sledding, skating, skiing, even building a snowman! Instead of fighting the elements, get out there and enjoy them. These are some fun ways to burn some calories, keep up your fitness level, and try some new things.

Schedule it

This isn’t just a winter time tip, I think you should do this all year long. This is one of my number one pieces of advice when it comes to getting yourself to a workout. Schedule it and put it on your calendar. You are more likely to do your workout if it’s already in your plans like anything else during your day.

It isn’t impossible to keep working out during the winter, you just have to be conscious to make the effort. Yes, it can be a little tougher to leave your warm bed when the weather is frightful, but exercise offers so many benefits that can help you get through these long months. It boosts your mood and energy, keeps you fit, and makes you feel better overall. Those are all great reasons to get out there and get active!

Spicy Cranberry Sauce

December 12, 2014 / ktbuchs87 / 1 Comment

I think cranberry sauce might be one of the most debated dishes at holiday meals. Do you make it from scratch or get in the can? Leave it tart or add copious amounts of sugar? Eat it on it’s own or use it as a turkey topping? Each family has their own preference and it’s usually steeped in tradition. We’ve always done it this way so we’re going to keep doing it this way.

Delicious canned cranberries. Look at those rings!

Well my cranberry palate has changed over the years. When I was younger, I was all about the canned cranberries. Nothing was better than opening the can and shaking it back and forth until the glob of cranberries, shaped exactly like the can rings and all, slid out onto the plate. I loved slicing rings off of that glob and gobbling them up. I’m sure the crazy amounts of high fructose syrup had nothing to do with that… Then as I got older I really started to like the cranberry relish that my mom made every year. It was a mix of cranberries, apples, oranges, and spices. I liked the tartness of the cranberries with the sweet of the apple and I liked the simplicity of the dish.

Then my mother in law brought a new cranberry sauce to Thanksgiving this year and it was amazing. It was a Guy Fieri recipe and it was a sweet and spicy sauce that was just awesome. I had to control myself so I didn’t eat the whole container! Luckily, I was able to snag some leftovers and got to enjoy the cranberries for a little longer. But once they were gone, I knew that I needed to make some more. So I looked up the recipe and realized that I had none of the ingredients other than the cranberries. Since I didn’t want to make a trip to the store just to get the ingredients for one dish, I decided to see if I could make my own version.

With a minimal amount of ingredients, I was able to recreate the sweet and spicy sauce that I had fallen in love with. This is a really easy dish to make and you can use this sauce for numerous other dishes. I’ve mixed it into oatmeal, used it as a topping for fish, tried it on some cookies, and even just eaten it with a spoon. It’s that versatile. Ok, enough talking about cranberry sauce time to go make some!

Spicy Cranberry Sauce

*adapted from Guy Fieri’s Red Devil Cranberries

1 cup whole cranberries
1 cup water
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder (less if you don’t want it as spicy)
1/4 tsp salt

1. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup water and 2 tbsp honey to a boil and then immediately lower to a simmer. Add in the cranberries and stir occasionally. Keep stirring until the cranberries start to burst.

2. Add in all the seasonings and stir to combine. Keep the heat on low and cook until the sauce has reduced and started to thicken.

3. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your taste. Turn off the heat and let the sauce cool. As it cools it will thicken even more. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

That’s it! It’s a fairly simple process and the sauce keeps for awhile in the fridge. Because cranberries are so abundant and cheap right now, you can make big batches and then freeze so you can have a delicious sauce for weeks to come. I hope that you enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you on Monday!

How To Not Be Overwhelmed This Season

December 10, 2014 / ktbuchs87

There are a little over two weeks until Christmas arrives. Try not to start hyperventilating like I did yesterday when I realized how close it is. Every year I tell myself I am going to be super organized when it comes to buying presents, decorating, baking, and everything else that comes with this season. And every year right about this time I’m still trying to get my act together. If you’re like me you’re probably wondering how you can get everything done in these last few days, while still getting all of your normal tasks completed. Don’t worry, it is possible to get everything done, go about your daily life, as well as enjoy a little bit of the holiday season. Here are a few tips to help keep you holly and jolly this year.

Make Lists

And check them twice. Seriously though, make lists for everything. Presents you have to buy, parties you’re going to, cookies you have to bake, if it needs to get done before Christmas put it on a list. If you try to keep everything in a mental list, trust me you are going to forget something. I like having one master list of everything and then smaller lists of specific things like gifts/cookies/parties/etc. This is the age of the smartphone and tablets, so it is really easy to have your lists right at hand. Or maybe you’re like me and you like having a good old fashioned hand-written list. Either way having a visual representation of what you need to get done will help, plus it feels really satisfying to cross things off your list.

Set up a schedule

With about two weeks left you still have enough time to spread out all of your tasks. Go through your list and make a schedule of when you need to get things done. Maybe you can bake cookies a few days ahead of time and freeze them or you have a free Saturday that you can dedicate to wrapping all your gifts. Plan out the next few days and try to get a few things off your list done. Having a deadline that is well before Christmas will save you from running around like a crazy person On Christmas Eve. It doesn’t have to be a strict schedule that you have to stick to, just a general idea of when you want things done.

Delegate

If you’re like me, you’re a little bit of a control freak. You like things done a specific way and at a specific time. The only way to get something done right and right away is to do it yourself. Believe me that attitude will not make your holiday season any easier. Learn to let a few things go and delegate jobs to others. You can’t possibly do every single thing on your list without going bonkers. Let friends and family help you and give some of your tasks to them. It will help ease your burden and it will let you enjoy Christmas. Plus it can be fun to have others help you and start new Christmas traditions.

Plan some fun

Yes your calendar is probably jam packed at this point, but try to make sure that not everything you have scheduled is work. It is easy to get wrapped up in all of the buying/gift-wrapping/baking/food-prepping that goes into this season and totally miss out on all of the fun things. Take a break from all of your work and go see a Christmas concert or movie, look at Christmas lights, go caroling, or build a fire, make some hot chocolate, and listen to a Christmas CD. Whatever is your favorite holiday activity, make sure you take some time to enjoy it. It helps to refocus your attention on all the fun and good of this holiday instead of becoming Scrooge who resents all the work.

I think the most important thing to remember is why we really celebrate this time of year. It isn’t all about the presents, the food, the shows, the concert, or the rush. It’s about our families and friends coming together to celebrate the gift that we were given all those years ago. It’s about spreading the cheer of this time of year to those who might not feel the Christmas spirit. It’s about being grateful for the immense amount of blessings that you have received this year and trying to pay it forward as best we can. Sure, parties and presents are fun and a part of the holiday, but they aren’t everything. Take a deep breath, turn on some Christmas music, and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year!

Monday Musings: Cookie Cutter Bodies

December 8, 2014 / ktbuchs87

I haven’t done a Monday Musing in awhile, so I thought I would bring that back. Sadly while the title of this post has the word cookie in it, there are no cookies. I’m sorry, I’ll make it up to you soon I promise. On with my musing.

Most of us want to be thought of as unique. We want to be seen as individuals and to have no one else like us. In general, I would say that these feelings are fostered in schools, at work, and in our daily lives. We are praised for being us and told that there is not another out there just like us. You think to yourself, “I am me and no one can be me like I can.” That all stops though when it comes to our bodies. Suddenly we want to have that person’s abs, that one’s buns of steel, and those eyes and hair.

You have probably thought of your dream body a lot. I know I have. I used to pour over magazines and watch movies and yearn for the perfect bodies that those people all seemingly had. Why couldn’t my body look just like theirs? I wasn’t happy having my own body looking the way I do because it seemed like everyone else looked a different way. How many of you have done that?

I know that there are so many of us who constantly pick apart our bodies and wish to wake up with the body of a goddess. I know that many of us work tirelessly to make that dream body come true, hoping if that we finally look like everyone else we will finally be happy. I know many of us just want our bodies to blend in with the general population instead of sticking out like a sore thumb. I have been there and I have felt those emotions time and time again. It took me a long time to be able to start to accept my body for what it was instead of what it wasn’t.

I think that it’s time that we start valuing our bodies like we value our individuality. We don’t NEED to look like everyone else, in fact unless you are an identical twin it is impossible to look like someone else. That is ok. No, that is great. Just like you want your thoughts, ideas, personality, and talents to be special, you should want your body to be special. It isn’t perfect, but guess what? No one has the perfect body and that is a beautiful thing.

For those of you caught in the dark thoughts of poor body image, I know that you have heard these words before. Love yourself, you’re special, no one can be like you. Those phrases bounce off you and make no impact. They all sound like ways to say you’re not beautiful but there are other things about you that you should be happy about. You might not have the legs of a model, but you’re hilarious. You don’t have long flowing hair, but you can sing like an angel. Don’t focus on your lack of a six-pack, you’re the next Mozart on the piano. Those are all good things to be, but when you look in the mirror and aren’t happy with what you see, those things don’t really matter.

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to look like anyone else! All you have to do is look like you. Stop trying to come up with a way to look like the girl next to you at the gym. Instead come up with ways to be proud of the body you possess. It can do so much and it deserves a little TLC. I know from experience that when you start to love what you have, your outlook becomes more positive. You may never have rippling arms, but you have arms and they are pretty great.

I know this has been a long musing, but I can’t stress enough how important it is that we start loving our special bodies and stop trying to become clones of each other. Start today by being thankful for the body you have and tell yourself that you are special and unique and there is NO ONE out there who has what you have. Be proud of that. Own it. You are you and that is awesome.