Notes from C: January

{1} I know I'm not the only one who looks forward to the New Year. Magazines are overflowing with ways to "freshen up" your workout routine, meal plans and daily beauty regimen; the gym is packed with those resolution-seeking hopefuls who are at least committed to starting the year out right; and there's a general sense of ambition in the air. As I've often said, I love the morning because it's ripe with potential - like a basket of freshly sharpened pencils on the first day of school (name that movie!). And of course the New Year is like the ultimate morning. So what do I do, along with all the other Type-A's out there? Why I write up some resolutions, of course. I like to have a few tangible, quantitative goals, and a few other more open-ended ones - and never too many that you forget to stick them out! Here are a few of mine this year:

1 - Read 13 books (or 15?), which shouldn't be hard except that I read really slowly (that's what happens when you spend your day as a copy editor!)

2 - Take the stairs. This means hiking up the 5 flights (= 10) at work every day, and whenever else I can use a little extra horsepower to get myself from A to B.

3 - Complete a sugar cleanse (1 week) at some point. Evan is challenging himself in the food department this year, so I thought it would be good for me to have my own goals. I'm also hoping to kick my bedtime-snack habit, but unfortunately I think my love for yogurt + granola is greater than my resolve on this one ; )

4 - Be a better friend to Evan. Although we really are great "friends," we are very different people with separate hobbies and interests. So I want to make an effort to partake in more of his interests, such as attending more sporting events.

5 - Remember: comparison is the thief of joy. 

{2} I've always loved hopping on a plane, not simply for the destination but for the chance to get above the clouds. There's something liberating about rushing down the runway, tilting upward, then watching as buses, parking garages, and water towers (along with all your worries) become organized, generic kid-sized toys: Monopoly pieces moving along a game board, legos stacked neatly. It's an escape from reality, to-do lists, and responsibilities that you can actually witness out that little window, as beads of precipitation drift horizontally back to earth. It's easy to get perspective on life when flying above the clouds. My flight from New Jersey back to Minnesota after Christmas has become my annual time for reflection, pondering the "big picture," and of course coming up with New Year's resolutions. Yea, I guess I'm the pensive, philosophical type. Evan is usually busy on his iPad or listening to music like most normal adults, but I spend most my time just staring out the window like a child ... or a weirdo, your call. I have to soak it in because before long my ears signal re-entrance to reality with an anticipated pop, the wheels touch down with a rush and a jolt, and I'm off - to a new year.

{3} Recipe: I've really been craving this recently, but since Evan's on a diet (more on that later!) I've been trying not to make meals that temp him with creamy, carb-y goodness. But you should totally make it this weekend so I can live vicariously through you. (photo from here)

{4} This is a about a week late, but on MLK Jr. Day one of my friends posted this on Facebook:

"I believe we can all do a better job of practicing peace in many areas of our lives - with our words, with our entertainment, with our deeds, with those we love and those we don't. That's what I am feeling on this birthday of MLK Jr."

Good words and quite a challenge for most of us, don't you think? I like that she includes entertainment in there, because so often we forget that we have choice in that area of our life.

{5} I am a big believer in homeopathic and lifestyle remedies. I know, sometimes you just can't ward off sickness, especially during cold and flu season, but these are the tricks that I credit for keeping me healthy for the past year and a half. Seriously, I've had nothing more than two days of a cold in over a year and a half, and this is coming from someone who used to suffer from her share of sinus infections and perpetual colds.

-Visit a chiropractor. I know, not the first thing that comes to mind, unless you're thinking about back pain, but I started seeing a chiropractor over a year and a half ago, and haven't gotten full-out sick since. A coincidence? Perhaps. But getting adjusted is thought to boost your immune system and keeps everything functioning in tip-top-shape (since your spine sends signals to every organ/system in your body, a healthy spine = a healthy body). I hope I haven't jinxed myself now! ... and I realize chiropractic treatment isn't everyone's cup o' tea.
-Eat less sugar. Since sugar is known to lower your immune system, I try not eat a lot of dessert or sugary drinks, especially during cold/flu season or if I feel a cold coming on. I've heard doctors mention one of the reasons people get sick after the holidays isn't just because they've been cooped up indoors together - they've also been consuming loads of immune-suppressant sugar. Truth or not, I have no idea, but it seems to do the trick for me.
-Wash out your Nose and Spray your Throat. Read more and watch a video here, featuring my doppelganger/twin!
-Work out. Not a great idea if you're already sick, but maintaining a workout schedule, even a mild one, keeps the blood flowing, toxins releasing, and makes for an all-around healthier person.

What health tricks do YOU have up your sleeve?

Here's the story behind Notes from C here.

Read past Notes from C here.

We have some exciting house projects to reveal soon ... kitchen is a few piddly projects away from being donezo and I've finally started tackling the upstairs (which I've never shown here on the ol' blog). 

Mason Jar Oatmeal, To-Go!

I know mason jars have been around forever, lining our grandparents pantries with everything from jelly to pickled watermelon (yea, that's a thing!), and for good reason: they're practical, simple, and let's face it - pretty darn cute all in a row. It's no wonder they've resurfaced in recent years as a popular Pinterest topic for wedding decor, creative domestic storage, gift-giving containers, and more. All that aside, I still surprised myself when I came up with this mason-jar usage the other day. Sure, it's nothing new and a quick google search will show my idea is not original, but my discovery came out of simple necessity one busy weekday morning.

I love breakfast. Lingering over a warm bowl of oatmeal is my idea of a good morning (or waffles, eggs, yogurt and granola ... yum). But on a hurried weekday morning, I rarely have time to do much more than gobble it down in shifts while running around the house fixing my hair, packing a lunch, sifting through the clean clothes for a lost sock ... you know how it goes. One morning I had my oatmeal all cooked and waiting in the microwave when the clock hit that point where I have to get out of the house, or else--  so I grabbed the nearest container, transfered my oatmeal, tossed it in my bag, and head to work. To my surprise, that little mason jar kept the oats nice and warm (since it's glass), and the milk I added at the end had time to absorb, creating the perfect oatmeal consistency. And bonus: no worry about leakage since the jars are known for their seal! Now I'm making my mason jars to-go five times a week and love having time to enjoy my breakfast while I sift through emails at work. Sometimes I'll even pack a small jar of OJ as well - you can trick yourself (and coworkers) into believing you're drinking freshly squeezed juice!

Here's my step-by-step process to creating the perfect oatmeal to-go:

Half a cup of oats

Add a little less than one cup of water, and toss in a few raisins/craisins if you'd like (they turn nice and plump when cooked).  Diced apple slices are also tasty.

Cook for 2.5 minutes in the microwave. I stir in a little bit of brown sugar.

Transfer cooked oatmeal into mason jar and add some nuts

Add a glug of milk

Screw on the cap and you're ready to go!

By the time you get to work, the milk will be mostly absorbed, but you can stir it around a bit for a nice creamy consistency.

Enjoy!

You can also try steel cut oats (longer cooking time) or any other hot cereal. I like steel cut with cinnamon, honey and yogurt.

Note: Washes easily in the dishwasher and you don't have to worry about BPA from eating out of plastic. On cold days I sometimes hear the top of the mason jar pop as I drive to work - the temperature change must cause a natural seal.