I'm excited for...

The house is taking longer than we thought, but that's okay because I LOVE surprises. So much. It's to the point where something will get completed on the house and I will purposely wait days, literally days, until I go look at it.

For example, right after Mike left for a week in San Diego, some of the flooring was completed. Instead of rush over there, I waited 6 days for Mike to get home to go look. There is something about the unknown and the anticipation that builds as I wait that keeps me coming back for more.

Now that I am typing this, it makes me think about that show "My Strange Addiction". My name is Lindsey and I am addicted to surprises.

Now that we got that out of the way, here is what I am excited about.

I am excited about the tanning sessions, morning coffees, and get togethers that this deck will be hosting. It went from this...

...to this!

Garage moved, railing complete, fence up. Yay! As long as I can see the water, I'm happy.

I am excited for a kitchen table that has quick access out to my garden, just in case I need to add a few extra veggies to my meal. 

I am excited for the front porch to be finished and to have a living room that is full of sunlight from the new windows! And with a front porch comes the duty of passing out Halloween candy, not mad about that! I want to be the house that gives out the "good" candy. There has to be one in every neighborhood, mine as well aim high.

This is more something that tickled Mike's fancy, but it'll make my list anyways. I am excited about a skylight on the third floor! It brightens up the room and is the perfect place to watch the awesome storms that roll off the lake. And Mike can stand and keep a look out, he's pretty excited about the whole standing without hitting his head thing. #tallpeopleproblems

And a view to die for. When I'm not outside, you will find me up here, on the couch that will be right in front of this window. Enjoying a cup of coffee, a breeze dancing on my face from the open windows, the feint lapping of water, and peace in my soul.





I'm excited about my garden doubling in size! So much more room for vegetables!! Just what I needed to achieve my goals of being a farmer. You have to start somewhere!

Some more spots for my veggies of choice.

Now this one is my favorite. The one I am most excited about...barn wood floors! Oh man, this wood is the icing on the cake. The kind of icing that you keep in an extra container so when your piece of cake runs out of icing because you have to have more icing than cake with every bite, you have more waiting.

It's not just any wood, it is reclaimed wood from a granary in Ohio. It was on the walls, not the floor, so it is in great shape, and the only markings are from an occasional math problem that was too hard to do in their heads. It's a little dusty in the pictures, but they are still working so bear with me.

Just look at it! I could stare at this all day. If I could fall in love with an inanimate object, this would be it.

In addition to vegetables, we will have quite an array of fruits too! Lining what used to be the garage, are about 15 blueberry bushes. We thought getting fruits that are expensive to buy made sense, hence our choices. I cannot wait to reach my goal of eating 50% of my yearly food from my garden.

Why stop at blueberry bushes when there is room for more? Here are 2 dwarf cherry trees, and in the corner by the stones is a peach tree. I'm not sure how long it will be until these babies will bear fruit, but I won't mind waiting.




Last but not least, I'm excited to be sustainable! We have 2 rain barrels going in by the garden to help with my water usage. We get plenty of rain out here by the lake, so I'm thinking these are going to be a good investment.

That's all the updates for now, I cannot wait until it is done and it's time to decorate! And that is a horse of a different color. I'm not sure I'm the girl for decorating a house, but we shall see!

Black Bean Butternut Squash Soup

As fall starts to really settle in here in Ohio, I like to do my best to welcome him for (hopefully) the next few months before old man winter blows through. Yes, a few days ago we had a blizzard, but old man winter was simply confused - he retreated peacefully right back to where he came from.

As I drove to work and saw inches of snow piling up, I felt so panicked! I hadn't visited a pumpkin patch, carved said pumpkins, gone apple picking, taken pictures of a tree with 19 different colors of leaves on it, attempted my first fall soup, enjoyed s'mores around a bonfire, gotten lost in a corn maze, indulged in gluten free pumpkin bread, or jumped in a huge pile of leaves that took me hours to rake. What have I been doing the past month?!

So today, I decided to get going on that list of my favorite fall things. As most of you probably guessed, I started with something that involved food. That's right, today was cook a fall soup day.



This soup is exactly what I needed to properly kick of my fall festivities - healthy, hearty, semi-thick, and a little sweet. I was trying out a few techniques with this recipe, like mastering the art of cooking beans from their dried state...much cheaper if you like a lot of beans in your life. I kinda love beans, so I am excited to have my first dried-to-cooked bean experience under my belt.

Please excuse the guesstimates on my ingredients, I normally don't measure vegetables because I love vegetables...I like to trust my tastebuds when it comes to spices. Basically I wing every soup I make.

Gather these things:

- 1 lb of dried black beans (or about 3.5 cans of cooked beans)
- 1 medium butternut squash (feel free to use kabocha or sweet potatoes)
- 2 large white onions, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 large carrots, chopped
- 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 bottle of a drinkable white wine
- 4 cups of chicken broth (depending on how brothy you like your soup, I prefer thicker soups)
- 2 T coconut oil (or oil of your choice)
- 3 lbs of chicken
- cumin, salt, pepper, mustard powder, and paprika
- 1-2 T tomato paste

Directions:

- If using dried beans, soak them overnight in cold water. Fill the water until it is about an inch or 2 above the beans.
- The next day, dump the water and add new water (about double the amount of beans) and boil the beans for about 1.5 - 2 hours (until at the tenderness level you like). Always keep the water level above the beans, add if water level drops below the beans.
- Once you are ready to start cooking, dump the bean water out. In a blender, put 2 cups of chicken broth (or water with chicken broth flavoring), and 1 cup of the beans. Blend together until pureed. Put aside for later.
- Wash butternut squash and put in microwave for 15 minutes. I normally put mine in a plastic bag so it steams itself, but I feel like there is a lot of talk about how this could be bad for you...so the plastic bag isn't needed.
- Cube the chicken, add salt and pepper. In a large soup pot, turn burner on low to medium heat and add 1 T of coconut oil. When it is hot, add the minced garlic. Let it go for a few minutes, you want it to keep it's light color, not turn brown. Add the chicken after about 2-3 minutes.
- When chicken browned on all sides, remove chicken/garlic mix from pot and set aside.
- To the same pot, add 1 T of coconut oil and turn burner to medium heat. When oil is hot, add in onions, celery, and carrots.
- Add (about) 1 T of cumin, 1/2 T of salt, 1 t of pepper, 1/2 T of mustard powder, 1/2 T of paprika, and 2 T of tomato paste to your veggies. Let the veggies cook with the spices until they are translucent.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot; chicken, bean/broth mixture from the blender, whole beans, wine, and the rest of the chicken broth.
- Let the mixture simmer for an hour or so - until it is at the thickness you like. I let mine go for almost 2 hours, until it was stew consistency
- Eat!!

Only a few pictures from my efforts today, I was trying my best to multitask :).

I wouldn't recommend leaving the skin on the butternut squash for it's role in this soup, but I definitely don't let it go to waste.

Butternut squash, post seed removal. 

I like to peel my squash after it cooks in the microwave, and then season it and bake it!! Nothing going to waste here! I chose garlic, chili powder, and salt as the seasoning this time. Sometimes I go a sweeter route and do a stevia and cinnamon blend. Tastes like fall for sure.

Once they come out, they are a crispy, crunchy delight! I offered it to Mike and told him it was like garlic bread. He quickly informed me that it was delicious, but not quite up to my introduction as garlic bread.

And there it is, the end product! So meaty, so beany, so full of sweetness from the squash! And the half bottle of white wine definitely didn't hurt the flavor of the broth. Oh, and the other half of the bottle of wine makes great company while cooking, just in case you were curious as to what to do with it.

Assuming you split this into 15 servings, here are the nutrition facts. A super satisfying meal with just as many grams of carbs as there are grams of protein. Win!

Recipe name

Black Bean Butternut Squash Soup

Number of servings

Serves 15.0 people

Ingredients	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sugar
Squash - Butternut, cooked, baked, without salt, 3 cup, cubes	246	65	1	6	12
Kirkland Signature - Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Frozen, 48 oz	1,440	0	18	312	0
Great Value - Black Beans (Dried), 1 container (3 3/10 cup dries ea.)	1,300	286	7	91	13
Vegetables - Carrots, Large, Raw, 2 carrot	60	14	0	2	10
Celery - Raw, 3 stalk, medium (7-1/2" - 8" long)	17	4	0	1	2
Generic - Diced White Onion, 2 cup	132	30	2	4	14
Generic - Wine, White, Dry, Sauvignon Blanc 150ml, 375 ml	366	9	0	0	6
Garlic - Raw, 5 clove	22	5	0	1	0
Total:	3,583	413	28	417	57
Per Serving:	239	28	2	28	4

The Landmark Forum in Chicago

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to the wonderous Chicago, IL for a little gathering called The Landmark Forum.

Chicago, home of bustling streets and the bean! And so many other things that don't make nearly as cool of a picture :).

Lululemon is a company of potentially endless gifts - depending on how much you put into it - and this forum was yet another one that I decided to try and make the most of. While I didn't get to see a ton of Chicago (it's a 5 day conference with one day off), I felt like I had taken a month long trip to a different country.

My ability to connect with someone is a skill that is necessary to be successful at my job, whether it be in the store or out. I have come to find that my ability to connect with others depends upon the act of how true I am being to myself. The better I am in tune to me, the better I can tune into someone else.

That's probably why I am finally in a relationship that has lasted. I have stopped trying so hard to work on myself that someone else can be put first. Life is funny like that. I have come to find that life is more like a teeter-totter - the things you want will not come, until you stop trying so dang hard. Or Mike is just ridiculously patient.

Either way, I definitely learned a few things on these long, long days of sitting and listening. I had quite a few moments that had a powerful impact, they are things that some might say "duh" to, but they were great reminders of how I can continue making the most of life...okay yes I'll say it, how I can have the happyest life! Hah :)

First - sharing is powerful. Share yourself. Share your thoughts, feelings, perspectives, and learnings. Share without expectation, and with good intention. You will be amazed at the difference it can make. If you don't think it's important, then you aren't sharing without expectation. Sharing isn't just for you, most of the time it is for the other person. People want to be involved and connected, and it's not always a two-way street. "Well he didn't tell me anything after I told him all of that!" That's okay. Do your part and don't expect anything after that. When the other person does decide to share, it will be amazing, unexpected, and fulfilling.

Second - giving a situation meaning is your choice. If you choose to see things negatively, to worry, to compare, to get stressed - that is your choice. Take responsibility in that any reaction you have, is only after you decide to give meaning to something. So choose wisely. I loved hearing about this. To be honest, I thought that I did this fairly well before going into the conference. I like to assume the best in people and be curious rather than judge, and I'd rather have a positive situation than a negative one. But let's just say it was like I ran into a few power-ups on the journey through my mind.

So, if you are looking to really take your life on, and get connected with why you are the way you are, it will be a great thing to go to. But, if you aren't looking to open your mind (and your mouth, because you better believe you are going to have to make some phone calls that will test your nerves), then don't bother. This is a place to step up to the mic and let someone ask you questions that you don't want to answer at first. A place to gain insight into how to handle every situation better.

As with all things, this conference can be whatever you want it to be...because nothing has meaning until you give it meaning, right?

Here are a few pictures from the trip! Of course I had to do multiple bean pictures. It was such a beautiful night, I couldn't stop snapping!

And then one day on my trek, they were filming some TV show or movie! I couldn't get close enough to see who or what or get any details what-so-ever, but hey, I was there!

On my day off I had the chance to walk around 15 miles, covering as much cement as possible to see the things I wanted to see. And to make up for all of the sitting that I had done. Buildings are a lot more beautiful than I remember.

I made sure to stop by the infamous Navy Pier. It was a brilliant day, the sun shining and warm enough to just need a jacket and some leggings (good thing too, because that is all I wear these days...#lululemonproblems).

The ferris wheel was calling my name, but I got a great view from near the end of the pier.

Instead of riding, I just took a picture and called it a day. There is something about riding a ferris wheel all alone that didn't tickle my fancy at the moment. I was enjoying my exercise and wasn't ready to give my legs a break yet.

Then I headed to the Magnificent Mile, by way of some cool fountain.

This was the first thing I saw when I emerged onto Michigan Ave. The beautiful Burberry building. See? The city can be beautiful! And from here I knew I would be keeping my wallet in my bag, and just window shopping.

After all of that walking, a girl needs some sustenance! And what better to fuel myself with than sugar? Nothing, you're right. A few blocks after the first rumbling in my tummy, I stumbled upon Sprinkles Cupcakes. As an avid watcher of the Food Network, as in I DVR every Cupcake Wars, I of course had to stop in for one...or 2. Or however many dairy free options they had that day :).

A cupcake ATM - where you can place your order and have it waiting for you inside. Brilliant. I wish it just spat out cupcakes instead of money. What a better world this would be!

They only had one dairy free option that day, so mine it was. And oh boy was it delicious. Light and fluffy cake that had a deep chocolate flavor...I could have eaten so much of that cake. And the frosting was the perfect counter to the cake, with its rich and sinful qualities. My only regret was only getting one. 

Because I went alone, I really had nothing to say goodbye to except the bean, which I walked by on every trek from my hotel to the forum, and back. So on my last day, I visited the bean and thanked it for it's stability in my trip. I was just trying to start my sharing as soon as I could!

Round 1: Fudgey Clif-ish bars

There she is. My first power bar! I am naming it the Fudgey Clif-ish bar, mainly because this recipe was modeled after Clif bars. Mine was better though, duh. And that is not a biased opinion at all.

I figured I would start with the first page of this power bar cookbook and carry on through the book, kinda like that movie about Julia Child. So here we go!

Gather these things:
     Wet
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/3 cup honey (maple syrup or agave nectar will work too)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened peanut butter (you can use any nut butter here) 

     Dry
- 1 cup pitted, soft dates (packed fairly well, but not to the point that you are ruining their shape)
- 1 cup puffed kamut (puffed rice, puffed wheat, or any puffed cereal you prefer will work too)
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds (or any nut you prefer)
- 3 Tablespoons natural cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup Jay Robb's chocolate egg white protein powder, or 1.5 scoops of this particular powder (any whey/vegan protein powder you prefer, just know that each scoop will be a different size)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs

Directions:
- Choose your pan for how thin/how many bars you want (the book recommends a 9 inch square pan, I chose a 8 x 11 inch pan for thinner bars). Cover pan in parchment paper/foil, then spray with non-stick oil
- Add the dates to your warm water to soften, leave them in for 5-10 minutes
- Add the puffed kamut, oats, chopped nuts, cocoa powder, protein powder, and cacao nibs to a large bowl, stir together.
- Drain your softened dates, and then put them in food processor. Pulse until they are finely chopped. Add bowl of dry ingredients, mix well.
- In a small saucepan, heat peanut butter and honey over medium-low, until mixture is melted and bubbly (do not leave it on for so long that it caramelizes, it should only take 2-4 minutes)
- Remove from heat, add in salt and vanilla.
- Immediately pour mixture from saucepan into your bowl of dry ingredients. Mix until coated (it should start looking like a paste, or a the texture of a clif bar).
- Transfer the mixture into your prepared pan. Place parchment paper over the mixture and press/flatten/spread it until it takes up the space in the pan. Cool for about 1 hour, or until firmly set.
- Lift liner from pan onto a cutting board, cut into your desired amount of bars. (I cut mine into 28 bars)
- Eat!!!

First, the dates take a bath.



Then add all of the listed dry ingredients.



Mix, mix, mix.



Then pulse the dates in a food processor.

Mmmm ooey, gooey mess.

Don't forget to spray your pan! I did until the last second, haha. I used coconut oil because I don't mind a hint of coconut. These aren't being baked, so choose your spray wisely!

Then add your honey and peanut butter, heat and stir! At first I tried to cut back on the honey, and do only 1/4 of a cup. Mistake. I didn't have nearly enough liquid to bind everything together, so I went back and added the rest of the honey, and a little almond milk too (about 1/8th of a cup).



Then pour the mixture from the saucepan into your dry ingredients. After mixing it thoroughly, plop it into your pan and start pressing!







And then taste test. This is probably the most important part! Mike happened to show up right as I was done. Coincidence? I think not. But he loved them! The gooey texture and the cocoa powder made them a fudge delight.



To store the bars, I individually wrapped them and put them in the freezer. I knew I was going to eat them over a few weeks, and the recipe says they will last at room temperature for only 3 days. Definitely not risking them going bad!

I would recommend individually wrapping if you are going to be leaving them in a bag all day, like I did. They don't melt or anything, but they do get easy to bend. So if they were wrapped together and they happened to get sat on, they would join together.



After taste testing a few too many dried fruits/nuts/gooey bites of deliciousness, I ended my day with a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar. I love Bragg's brand because it is unfiltered and raw. For me, it's a quick way to cure my aching sweet tooth. I find that when I eat sweets in the morning, I will want them all day. This isn't for everyone, and I would definitely recommend a chaser of water...and consider plugging your nose... :).

Here are the nutrition facts if you make 28 bars like I did. I used the My Fitness Pal app to plug in my ingredients, it's one of my favorite food tracking apps. 

Recipe name

Energy bar 1 – Fudgey Clif-ish Bar

Number of servings

Serves 28 people

Ingredients	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein		Sodium		Sugar
365 - Dates (Pitted), 24 Pieces (40g)	440	120	0		4		0		100
Arrowhead Mills - Organic Puffed Kamut Cereal, 1 cup (15g)	50	11	0		3		0		0
Jay Robb Egg White Protein Powder Chocolate - Protein Shake, 1.5 scoop 33g	180	6	0		36		570		0
Hershey's - Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 3 Tbsp.	30	9	2		0		0		0
Quaker Oats - Old Fashioned 100% Natural Whole Grain, 1 cup dry	300	54	6		10		0		2
Trader Joes - 50% Less Salt, Dry Roasted and Salted Almonds, 1/4 cup	180	6	16		7		60		1
Trader Joe's - Creamy Unsalted Peanut Butter From Unblanched Peanuts, 6 tbsp	570	21	48		21		0		3
Trader Joe's - Organic Raw Honey, 115.5 g	330	94	0		0		0		88
Sunfood Superfoods - Organic Raw Cacao Nibs, 1 oz (3 tablespoons)	171	8	13		4		15		0
Total:	2,251	329	85		85		645		194
Per Serving:	80	12	3		3		23		7

The totals are listed, so you can divide it out for however many bars you decide to make. 

I normally prefer a little more protein and a little less sugar in my bars, but for a post workout snack with no preservatives and all ingredients that I can pronounce, its not too shabby! Let me know how yours turn out!