Honesty

I'm going to be honest here ... this transition diet thing isn't working for me. Since I feel as though there isn't anyone else with their heart set on doing it, I'm going to change my strategy a bit for my own healthy lifestyle and invite you to consider it with me.

I feel as though the transition diet is an awesome guideline - but my problem with it is its lack of specificity. The first week, I really had a hard time figuring out what to cut out. There were the obvious things such as candy and Doritos, but I wasn't really sure if a slice of pizza counted as junk or as a meal; if going out to eat and ordering (greasy) beef tacos was junk, etc. As I said, it wasn't specific enough, and for me this is a problem. And when I don't feel clear on things, I usually just give up and ended up eating WORSE this last week and a half than I was the weeks before.

What I have been doing on my own these past few weeks though is doing what I mentioned in my last transition diet post: I've really been noticing how specific foods and quantities make me feel, and I noticed something that I hadn't really paid much attention to before. Processed foods, especially when we eat out, really make me sick. Panda Express literally tasted horrible to me this week after noticing how other similar foods had made me felt.

With that in mind, I've created a fairly specific list of foods I'm going to be keeping and avoiding in my diet. I've listed specific things that are in my cupboards, or foods such as "El Pollo Loco tacos" which are the tacos el carbon and are actually very healthy as eating out fast food goes (120 calories, very low in sodium, high in protein.) Because of that, you might want to make your own list, but here is mine in case you'd like a jumping off point.

(If the picture is not showing up in-text, click on it and it will open the viewable photo in a new page.) Obviously, I can't/won't (?) cut out foods on the right side forever, and that's why I'll consider them "treat" foods. But for the most part, I'd actually rather not eat them based on how they've made me feel in the past. Foods on the left side actually can be divided into two categories - I obviously will want to be eating more fruits and vegetables than noodles! :) I'll even be more honest - I've been putting a lot of thought into mostly focusing on eating fruits, nuts, grains, vegetables. However, I don't feel like a vegetarian (or more strict) diet is right for me now, so I'm starting off here.

If you're bored and skimming - stop here! Anyway, you're probably wondering where I'm going with this. As I said before, I don't feel like the transition diet is working for me, but I'm always trying to come up with new ways to make my lifestyle healthier and work for me. But I also hate the feeling of failing I was getting from the transition diet, so I wanted to share this inspirational movie clip:

Do or do not. There is no try.

It's kind of like the idea behind Nike's Just Do It! ad campaign. I don't want to try to be healthy and fail. I want to DO IT. I want to set my mind and set my will to decide to be healthier and decide to love my body for what it is and therefore treat it as it should be. I'm tired of feeling like I'm sluggish, that I don't like the way my body feels, etcetera. And while there is merit in learning to "love the jeans you're in" there is also a need to treat your body as the temple of the Lord that it is - and to me, as much as possible, that means keeping your body healthy, in good working order, not feeding it doritos and fatty fried foods every day.

I quoted this verse before, but I'll leave you with it again and encourage you to consider what it means for you and your healthy lifestyle:

¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

-1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Productivity and a Healthy Lifestyle

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 

Proverbs 6:6

By a show of hands, how many of us struggle with productivity? While I hope most of you know that you’re behind a computer and therefore unseen by anyone else, I'm laughing if you actually raised your hand. However, I'm hoping you’ll be honest when you consider the question. I know we all are sometimes, but some of us are a lot more than others. Here are just a few tips from my own life on being more productive, and why I feel productivity is important for you and your healthy lifestyle!

First off, let’s address ways to improve your productivity levels.

• I’m sure your mother has been saying this since you were 5 years old, but make your bed when you get up in the morning! I’ll share a personal anecdote: when I get up on the weekends, it’s usually when I roll out of bed at around 10 or 11. By then, I just shuffle down the stairs, plop myself on the couch, and watch tv or read for several hours before I realize - “hey, I should probably do some homework . . . Oh well.” The other day, however, we got up and we immediately made our bed. It only took about 30 seconds and we actually got homework done that day! I went for a walk, took a shower and did my hair and makeup (which I usually do NOT do on Saturdays just at home), finished 5 sections in math, and ate better than I generally do. Lesson: Immediate productivity breeds productivity.
• Write yourself a to-do list, and make it manageable. No, “Today I will clean my entire house, do two weeks worth of homework, work out for an hour and a half, make a shopping list and go shopping, pay all of the bills, wash the dog, wash the car, …” 

Lists like this are unattainable and create disappointment and ultimately make us give up when we realize we are unable to complete even a small part of that list. Make your list in chunks, such as - “Clean bathroom. Read for one hour. Go for a brisk walk. Do one section of math homework. Tidy living room,” or whatever it is you have on your plate. Simply put, make a list you can handle and accomplish.

• Make a game out of it. How much of that homework can you get done in two hours? Can you beat your personal record on time it takes to clean the house? What reward will you get when you’re finished? Do you have a study buddy or friend you can challenge in this “game”?
• Take a break… but set a time limit. One thing that helps me on a long day ahead of homework is knowing that I will get a break. Taking the time to exercise, take a nap, or even relaxing with ONE tv episode, will give you something to work toward. I often get overwhelmed when I feel I have no chance to breathe or relax, and at that point, I’m even more unproductive.
• Give yourself a deadline. If you're anything like me, you work better when you know you have to. I'm a procrastinator, but this generally works for me. I work well under pressure. Knowing I have to have something done by a deadline gives me better motivation to work hard and work fast!
• Pray about it. Feeling like there’s no way you can pull yourself out of that funk? Ask for help. God cares about all of our worries, cares, issues, problems, even that messy bathroom you keep meaning to clean. Remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

But why does any of this matter? Why is productivity on a blog about healthy living? As I hinted above, being productive makes me more productive, so to speak, in my healthy lifestyle. I’m more likely to exercise and eat right on days where I feel like I’ve gotten a lot done and have been useful. Days where I feel terrible about myself for my laziness and lack of productivity lead me to eat badly and not want to exercise. Since I’m assuming I’m not alone in these feelings, I hope to have encouraged you with these ideas.

Do you have any other tips or ideas for productivity? What works for you and what doesn’t?

Week 2: Learn and Move On

Today starts week two of the transition diet! How did you do? Did you survive the week or was it more difficult than you thought it would be?

For me, it was a hard week. I was sick for two days. I was depressed from a bad score on a calculus test. I was tired from studying and not sleeping much, which made me crave sugar all the more. And as much as I told myself, "this won't make you feel better!" it didn't seem to make much of a difference in the moment.

So, for this next week, I'd like to challenge you to something in addition to the original directions of the diet. Every day, write about what you ate. How did that chicken salad make you feel? How did that frappuccino with whipped cream make you feel? How did those grapes make you feel? Try to focus on how your body truly felt after eating those things and, when you're eating a grape sucker, then real grapes later when you make up for it, notice how much truer and wonderful the taste of the real thing really is. The key in this journaling process is to not tear yourself down. So you ate an extra helping at dinner and it made you feel sick? Learn from it and MOVE ON! Don't think that just because you ruined your "diet" at dinner that you ruined the whole day. Try to remember that eating healthy, like most things in life, is about constantly making adjustments and readjustments. It's okay to make mess up every now and then, but again, just learn from it and move on.

Another thing to consider is this idea: did you know that even a ten minute walk after every meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) can make wonderful progress in your diet? This is for four main reasons (that I've come up with. Let me know if you think of any others!)

• First, those ten minutes will add up. By the end of the day, you've likely walked at least a mile and a half (even if you're walking unbearably slow) or even up to 2 or 2.25 miles. That's probably more than a lot of us normally walk or even exercise on a regular basis! 
• Second, walking after a meal helps our bodies process and digest the food quicker, speeding the metabolism, and getting rid of unwanted or unneeded calories. 
• Third, walking and taking time to enjoy nature outside, the people that take the walk with us, or even just the alone time helps us de-stress and detox. Stress induces a cortisol hormone reaction which causes most of us to eat more (and generally eat more of the foods we SHOULDN'T be eating!) By walking, we are not only burning off calories and speeding our metabolism, but we are also helping ensure that we won't be likely to eat something worse later! 
• Finally, I also greatly believe that these short walks also help us know that we're taking care of ourselves - and I generally don't want to eat a big bowl of ice cream in front of the tube when I feel like I've been taking care of myself and am feeling very healthy.

So, now that we've got these two challenges and tips for the next two weeks, let me remind you what the next week's diet instructions are. And please feel free to invite your friends to join you! Accountability with friends is the first step to a healthier lifestyle! And they can join in on this week easily since the "cut junk food" rule is still in its early stages.

Good luck and enjoy your healthy living!

Week 2

Each week's rules are cumulative, so the "no junk" rule from Week 1 will apply until the end, as will each subsequent week's rule. Remember that this is a learning and conditioning process. It's like you're in school and the subject is your own body.

Eat small, eat often. Eat four to six small meals a day, and don't eat anything for about 3 hours before you go to sleep. Following these rules will keep your blood sugar levels more static and your energy level will stay consistent. Try to keep each snack or meal balanced. Keep a 30 percent protein, 40 percent carbohydrate, and 30 percent fat scale in mind, though you don't need to worry too much about it. Just realize that you need a bit from each macronutrient group. Eat based on what you'll be doing for the next few hours (if you're working out, eat a little more; sitting at a desk, eat a little less). The 3-hours-before-bed rule is important, especially for fats and carbohydrates. By allowing time for all the carbs you eat to get into your bloodstream, your body will sleep in fat-burning mode, rather than in calorie-storing mode. This is important because undigested carbs in your stomach at night are stored as adipose tissue (fat).

Cheat Days: 2

Weekly focus: Carbs are not the enemy. Your body needs them, just like it needs proteins and fats. The trick is to choose the right carbs. As a society, we eat too much refined sugar. Complex carbs, like whole-grain breads, whole-grain rice, sweet potatoes, and legumes are outstanding foods. Even fruits, which have simple carbohydrates wrapped in fiber, are very good for you and hard to overconsume. While you don't want a diet based on nothing but carbs, making the right carb choices will maximize your body's potential. Try to avoid white rice and flours. Read labels, and try to avoid ones that use the word "enriched," because this means these products have been stripped of their natural nutrients, overprocessed, and then fortified with a few random nutrients.

^8 Week Transition Diet

My friend over at The Fit Wife posted this article, originally by the folks at P90X. It's a real-life approach to changing your diet to a healthy one that still allows you the freedom to "cheat" guilt-free every now and then:) I hope this article is as informative for you as it was for me!

**Also, if anyone is interested, please let me know if you'd like to start an accountability group to go through this diet. We'd have weekly check-ins on the diet with me posting my update and open commenting for your progress.**

The 8-Week Transition Diet
by Steve Edwards

Week 1

No junk. Eliminate junk food from your diet. That's it, just junk. Other than this, you can eat whatever and whenever you like. Now, how hard can that be? Guess this depends on what I mean by "junk." But all I'm concerned with this week is the obvious stuff like potato chips, candy, ice cream, cake, etc. You may be stricter if you'd like, but for Week 1, don't be too hard on yourself. For many of you, this step alone will reap huge benefits.

Cheat Days: 2

Since no one's perfect, you get 2 days to cheat. That's right, 2 days where you can eat anything you want! A trick on these days (and, yes, this means there will be more) is to listen to your body. At first, it'll probably tell you it wants whatever you've been denying it. However, over time, it'll start to crave nutrients you're deficient in. Learn to read your body's subtleties. If you're craving ice cream, you may be short on essential fatty acids. If you crave a hamburger, your diet may lack protein. This way, you can make better food substitutions. It's a way of getting in tune with yourself that will benefit you for your entire lifetime.

Weekly focus: Water. Not swimming in it, though that's good too, but staying hydrated with it. You should drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. Diet sodas and such are no substitute, because they contain a passel of ingredients that live right at the bottom of the junk heap. Drinking a glass of water when you feel hunger pangs coming on will not only keep you hydrated, but will help stave off your hunger to some degree.

As for other drinks, juices and sugary sodas also (obviously) fall into the junk category. And alcohol should be kept to a minimum. We tend to forget (purposely or not) that alcohol has calories. A lot of them: 7 calories per gram. Mixers can be even worse—not only can they add calories, but sugary calories influence the way alcohol reacts with your body. When you do drink, red wine is the alcohol of choice, with natural beer running second.

Week 2

Each week's rules are cumulative, so the "no junk" rule from Week 1 will apply until the end, as will each subsequent week's rule. Remember that this is a learning and conditioning process. It's like you're in school and the subject is your own body.

Eat small, eat often. Eat four to six small meals a day, and don't eat anything for about 3 hours before you go to sleep. Following these rules will keep your blood sugar levels more static and your energy level will stay consistent. Try to keep each snack or meal balanced. Keep a 30 percent protein, 40 percent carbohydrate, and 30 percent fat scale in mind, though you don't need to worry too much about it. Just realize that you need a bit from each macronutrient group. Eat based on what you'll be doing for the next few hours (if you're working out, eat a little more; sitting at a desk, eat a little less). The 3-hours-before-bed rule is important, especially for fats and carbohydrates. By allowing time for all the carbs you eat to get into your bloodstream, your body will sleep in fat-burning mode, rather than in calorie-storing mode. This is important because undigested carbs in your stomach at night are stored as adipose tissue (fat).

Cheat Days: 2

Weekly focus: Carbs are not the enemy. Your body needs them, just like it needs proteins and fats. The trick is to choose the right carbs. As a society, we eat too much refined sugar. Complex carbs, like whole-grain breads, whole-grain rice, sweet potatoes, and legumes are outstanding foods. Even fruits, which have simple carbohydrates wrapped in fiber, are very good for you and hard to overconsume. While you don't want a diet based on nothing but carbs, making the right carb choices will maximize your body's potential. Try to avoid white rice and flours. Read labels, and try to avoid ones that use the word "enriched," because this means these products have been stripped of their natural nutrients, overprocessed, and then fortified with a few random nutrients.

Week 3

Eat some colorful, low-density food at every meal. These are foods that take up a lot of space without a lot of calories. Veggies are the most obvious example. You can eat a salad bowl overflowing with lettuce and veggies and you most likely won't exceed 100 calories. By eating low-density foods like veggies and fruits, you'll keep your portions under control naturally, because they have very few calories for their size. Conversely, high-density foods, like chocolate and butter, are loaded with calories in even the smallest amounts. So beware of salad dressings and other things you add to salads and veggies. Only add enough for flavor; don't fill up on them. When it comes to live foods, the richer the colors, the fresher the products tend to be. Try to eat a variety of colors in your diet. This simple and somewhat random act will help ensure that you're covering your bases, nutrient-wise.

Cheat Days: 1

Weekly focus: Protein at every meal. This becomes even more important as you eat more low-density food, because protein tends to be high-density. Many veggies have a lot of protein, but the quantity you must consume starts to become prohibitive. Try to get some protein—meat, dairy products, nuts, seeds, or legumes—each time you eat, especially when you're working out hard, because you need to repair broken-down muscle tissue. Frequency of protein consumption is even more vital for women, who aren't able to digest as much protein at one time as men are. It's almost impossible to get all your necessary protein at one or two meals, so try to get 10 to 20 grams of protein each time you eat. Reading labels is a simple way to learn how to estimate your protein intake, but if you eat natural foods, most of which don't have labels, you can look at online nutritional information guides to determine the amount of protein each serving contains.

Week 4

Cook at home. One of the best ways to control your eating is to prepare all your meals yourself. Eliminate all fast food (which should have been gone in Week 1) and most other restaurant food. You may still eat food from certain restaurants where you can be sure of the ingredients (most will be savvy enough to make a point of how healthy their food is). But avoid all fast food chains, even ones that claim to be "healthy." Restaurants need their food to taste good, so they'll often use compromised ingredients, even when they list low numbers on fats and/or calories. Fast food can contain many hidden evils in addition to calories. For example, next time you see one of those nutrition charts, check the sodium levels; most fast foods use ridiculously high amounts of salt. Avoiding fast food alone will often bring your body closer to homeostasis (its desired state of balance). This can be hard for many of us because we now have to plan our meals and prepare ahead of time, but try and treat it like vocational school—you don't learn a new "job" without a little retraining.

Cheat Days: 1

Weekly focus: Fat is essential. Remember that fat is a vital part of your diet, not just something that makes you fat. What is not vital is a lot of saturated or trans fats. Trans fats are mainly those that are artificial, and hopefully they've been eliminated from your diet by this point, since they're generally only found in junk. Saturated fats are found in dairy products and meats, and you don't need too much. For cooking, try to use olive oil when possible. Also, the addition of either flaxseed or hempseed can have a pronounced effect on your health. These seeds are loaded with essential fatty acids (omegas 3 and 6). Be careful about that amount of fat. It is dense and has 9 calories per gram, as opposed to 4 for both carbs and protein. A tablespoon goes a long way!

Week 5

Reduce starchy carbohydrates. Starches include rice, bread, potatoes, corn, beans, and other legumes. While many of these are in no way bad foods, most people tend to consume far too many of them. So what you want to do this week is cut way down on them, if not cutting them out completely. Then add them back in when your body feels like it needs energy, which it will at some point if you're exercising (and why wouldn't you be?). But don't add a huge plate or bowl of pasta; instead, add a small single serving. Starches are great energy food, but if you eat too many, they turn the tables and make you sluggish!

Cheat Days: 1

Weekly focus: Sugar is only beneficial after a hard workout. Your body doesn't need processed sugar. But if you really enjoy it and can't avoid letting some sneak into your daily diet, the 1-hour period after you exercise is the best time to indulge. During this window, your blood sugar is low, because you've used it up to finish your workout (assuming you pushed yourself), and sugar during this time will help you recover faster because it speeds into your system and initiates the recovery process. Adding a little protein, but not too much, will enhance your recovery even further. The best ratio is 1 part protein to 4 parts carbs. You should avoid fats during this immediate post-workout period, because they slow absorption—a good thing most of the time, just not during and immediately after working out.

Week 6

If man makes it, don't eat it. This is likely to be the hardest week of your diet. You want to eat only whole foods and eliminate all processed foods, even good ones, for the week. This includes breads, most salad dressings, all cereal, luncheon meats, cheese, dried fruits, anything with preservatives, and alcoholic beverages. What you can eat are whole foods such as fruit, raw or steamed vegetables, meat (sans any type of sauce), natural whole-grain rice, poached eggs, etc. Since your eating habits have been slowly changing, this shouldn't be that big a shock to your system, but keeping in focus that you only have to do this for 7 days will make it easier. (Although each week's rules are cumulative in the plan, Week 6 is more of a "cleanse" or "reset" week where you avoid all processed food; after Week 6, you can go back to the occasional processed food, but chances are you'll take what you learned this week and tend to make healthier, smarter choices.)

Cheat Days: 1

The "cheat day" mentality isn't a bad one. Rewards like decadent desserts, a night at the buffet, or drinking with friends are good for you as long as you keep them in perspective. These are rewards for a life well lived and you should be able to feel good about doing them. Plus, there's some method to this madness as well, in that you still tend to crave nutrients you lack. So if you're cutting down on the calories to lose weight, allowing yourself a cheat day will give your body a chance to take in what it needs to avoid being malnourished.

Weekly focus: Nuts make great snacks. A handful of raw almonds or cashews is a quick and easy snack that goes a long way. Don't be put off by the high fat count of nuts, because this means it takes fewer of them to satiate you. Nuts are loaded with important phytonutrients, as well as good fats, proteins, and fiber.

Week 7

Be yourself. No rules—just try and eat as healthily as you can and do it by feel. Trusting yourself might seem like a lot of responsibility, but by now you'll be up to it. Learning to eat by feeling what your body needs is an important step in your transformation. Consider the way you've been eating over the last 6 weeks, but don't worry about what you should and shouldn't do. Just fuel yourself. The point is to take a mental break. Relax and allow yourself to eat in a way that feels normal. You may be surprised to find yourself craving something healthy instead of a candy bar or soda. You'll be better at listening to your body because it'll tell you what it needs to eat, as opposed to what you're used to eating. Your body should feel somewhat transformed. Does it?

"Reward for a Life Well Lived" Days: 1

Weekly focus: If you're so hungry at night that you can't sleep, try a protein shake before bed. When it's real, and not habitual, hunger means you lack nutrients your body needs to repair itself as you sleep. You want nothing but protein powder and water. No carbs or superfluous calories. But protein at night, especially whey, will help the body repair damaged tissue and enhance the natural growth-hormone spike that you get while you sleep.

Week 8

Eat a perfect diet. Now it's time for a real challenge—are you ready? The perfect diet is strictly individual, as there's no one diet that suits everybody. So who better to choose the perfect diet for you than you? Our bodies are all different, and the key to your own perfect diet is learning about how your body reacts to different foods under different circumstances. Your journey over the last 7 weeks should have brought you to a new understanding of how food affects your body, both for good and for bad. Now it's up to you to put it to the test. See how well you can eat for a week. In fact, see how well you can eat for the rest of your life. Live and enjoy.

Reward Days: 1, of course!

Weekly Focus: Don't bonk. Bonking is a state where your body runs out of stored blood sugar for energy. If you feel like your workouts are going backward instead of forward, this is a likely culprit. Use your energy level as your gauge. As soon as it starts to drop, start adding carbs back into your diet until you feel energized all day long. When you feel energized during your workouts and not sluggish throughout the rest of the day, you'll know you've found the right balance between carbs and other nutrients. Also, remember that as your body puts on more muscle, you will need to eat more. Muscle weighs much more than fat so as you gain muscle and lose fat, you will shrink at the same weight. You will also require more calories in order to maintain your muscle. So when you're working out hard, don't be afraid to eat more carbs than you do otherwise.

Healthy Eating and a Couple of Product Placements . . .

Tonight's post isn't so much about a recipe as it is about healthy eating and how easy it is! (See bottom of post for dinner idea.)

I've only recently discovered Whole Foods in the last few months. This store is GREAT!! I wouldn't buy everything there (their pasta is ridiculously expensive and if you're going to be eating frozen lunches, I wouldn't spend 7 dollars on one) but their produce and meat is incredible and not much more expensive (maybe 5-10%) than most grocery stores. I haven't yet tried any produce from Whole Foods that I don't think is amazing, and Farmers' Market fresh! And the best part about Whole Foods is their passion for health - from the animal meats sold to the health of their customers. For instance, Whole Foods is one of the only stores that sells Organic Grass Fed beef at a low, affordable rate. Today, I got a pound of Grass Fed Beef Rounds for 9 dollars (grain/corn-fed would probably have been 7 at Albertson's or Raley's).

Why is Grass Fed so important? This blog lays it out well. Basically, grass is natural and healthy while the corn and grain fed cattle gain weight in a 5th of the time and are therefore unable to do so without a ridiculous amount of growth hormones and antibiotics -- and all of this transfers right into your body, helping create the superbugs that are making OUR antibiotics useless. (Staph infection, anyone?) Not only that, the corn-fed cattle have more than FOUR times the amount of fat grams than grass-fed beef (see this chart) in each 3 oz serving. That means that in a 9 oz. serving of corn-fed beef, you'll be getting nearly 26 grams of fat, when you'd only be getting SIX grams of fat in a same-portion sized serving of grass-fed. I could go on, but you probably get the point.

Whole Foods has also led me eating more fruits and veggies, helping to cut out unnatural sugars and fats. I did a fruit/vegetable/nut fast right after Christmas for about 5 days and lost 6 pounds - and have kept it off, partly because of a healthy change in my diet, but I won't lie and say I don't still enjoy my white rice and some candy every now and then.

So what's my point? Why is this so important to me?

-- My point is that fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy fats from nuts such as sunflower seeds and almonds, are the BEST way to keep your body feeling healthy and help peel the fat from your body. Meats such as chicken and beef ARE a part of a healthy diet so long as the serving size and fat grams are kept low - enter the grass-fed family, please!

-- Why is this so important to me? My grandma was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had a whole host of illnesses assail her body and nearly take her from us over Christmas. My stepdad had major blockages in his heart that were possibly only seconds away from causing a fatal heart attack. Diabetes runs in my family. While I am not blaming ANY of my family's illnesses on eating habits, I do know that eating a healthy diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and low-fat meats will proactively keep me from developing these illnesses later -- and should I anyway? I'll be ready for my "new" life because I'll already be used to eating healthier and making good decisions.


One thing I'd like to say though, is that I don't think healthy eating has to be a pain. I personally believe in compromises. If you like white rice or white bread or regular pasta, eat it in moderation on a plate that is otherwise healthy! If you like sugar, allow yourself to have some every now and then (though please no HFCS - high fructose corn syrup)! If you can't stand the thought of plain almonds or sunflower seeds - it's OKAY to compromise with some sea salt! Your body will be better off with the compromise than with a full-out binge if you're not able to handle the switch to healthier eating -- I know I wasn't able to handle it the few times I tried to drop sugars and white flours cold turkey!


ALL of these things said ... Here is the recipe. It's more like a dinner idea because there isn't really a recipe required. Also, get ready for a few product placements (I was not paid by these companies:)

I LOVE my new rice cooker/steamer by Hamilton Beach (only $49 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, though I'm sure you can find it cheaper online at Amazon or Overstock). It cooks up to ten cups of rice at a time while simultaneously steaming vegetables.

Tonight's veggies of choice were red and gold potatoes and some fresh French green beans. I steamed them over the rice, lightly salted. Prep time: 5 minutes. Cook time: 25-30 minutes. (Tip: Start cooking the rice/veggies approximately 25 minutes before you cook the meat as the meat will cook in less than five minutes.) You can also steam these veggies and rice without a rice cooker, but I find it much easier and a lot less maintenance! 

Next product placement: George Foreman grill. GET ONE! This 144" grill was only 37 dollars on Amazon and cooks SO fast and SO healthy, and it is SO easy to clean! We use ours now at least three times a week! Time to pre-heat is approximately 5 minutes. I would recommend adding just the tiniest bit of olive oil to help ensure the non-stick plates are really non-sticky! :)

Marinated grass-fed beef. Here I only used approximately 5-6 ounces of the pound of sirloin that I bought. It was marinated at the store for me in a black pepper and garlic marinade, though I added some of my own black pepper and sea salt to it just before cooking. This meat took only 4-5 minutes to cook! Simple as pie! (Actually, easier than pie!)

And voila! A little bit of steak, some potatoes, green beans, and rice with apples and pineapples as a side/dessert. Yum!

Tips: Mac and Cheese? No Milk? No problem!

I am remembering my cousin Jessica's post about making sure to take the cheese packet out of the mac and cheese box before pouring the noodles into the water ... and reminiscent of that, I have another tip to add to the "Mac and Cheese" list.

Always check that you have all ingredients before cooking.

But, if you happen to not have milk, it's actually less of a problem than you might think. We added the right amount of butter, about a 1/2 tablespoon of water... and it worked.. JUST FINE. Less calories, and it tasted... really pretty much the same. I think I actually liked it more because it was less runny!

So if you ever find yourself halfway through making some yummy mac and cheese, only to find you don't have any milk... don't give up! You can still enjoy your yummy, over processed, completely fake cheese noodles ;)

Tanning: The Sun vs. Tanning Beds

If you live in California, which I assume that most of my readers (as if I have a lot HA!) do, you know about the pressure that comes around ... well... year round but mostly Summertime. One word - "tan". I've been tan only once in my life before this year, and it was the year I was on swim team from April-ish to mid-September. I was in a wedding that year in July, I believe, and my strapless dress gave a boy all the clues he needed to surmise that I was a swimmer... although I was confused at the time when he said, "Swim team, huh?" I guess the extremely white X in stark contrast to my otherwise very tan back gave it away. In my defense, I was blonde back then.

This year, I was basically peer pressured into getting a tan. Several people suggested I go to a tanning bed, at least for a few weeks, to really jump-start a tan... but I prefer the sun. I really do... Something just ... doesn't seem right about a coffin with sunlamps. :)

So I started tanning in the afternoons, but wasn't getting anywhere, I eventually started tanning in the morning, and BAM ... I have a tan.

But... my tan really isn't the point of this post. It's about the debate over the health issues of tanning in the ...

vs.

I've always felt this: the sun really, REALLY shouldn't be the victim when it comes to skin cancer concerns. Yes, I realize there are those of my beautiful red-headed and fair-skinned friends (of which I have many) who are more sensitive and prone to burns than most - and I'm not suggesting they stop wearing sunscreen because a) they actually are more prone to sun damage and cancer than most and b) sunburns hurt like ... well, you know. But, the sun has been around.. you know, a LONG TIME... like, longer than humans, by a few days. People have been working and living and working some more out in the sun for thousands of years... and yet, somehow, skin cancer has only really gotten WORSE in the last 30 years or so ... since tanning beds were invented.

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation (article linked), "indoor tanning increases melanoma risk by 74 percent." SEVENTY-FOUR PERCENT?! And people are worried about the SUN?! It really IS a coffin with sunlamps, my gosh! 

I don't even want to start to get into the debate about whether or not Obama plans to put a tax on indoor tanning (although, let me just point out that if a Republican were in office, a lot of Republicans probably wouldn't think it was a bad idea ... I'm just sayin'.) Personally, I don't want to get into the politics of it, although I will say that if it increases the chance of skin cancer by SEVENTY-FOUR PERCENT then they should probably be consistent with taxing it alongside cigarettes. Whether or not you think that is the government's right however, is an argument I'm really not interested in.

So, why am I bothering to post this? Consider me an advocate, a pro-bono lawyer per say, for the sun. I love the sun. We can't avoid every single thing that "may cause cancer" (unless it increases the risk by SEVENTY-FOUR PERCENT AND COSTS MONEY!!!?!). The Sun, however, really is a great, awesome thing. So even if you smother on the sunscreen this summer, go out in it. Believe me, it feels great and it is quite a mood lifter (especially for people like me with S.A.D. - seasonal affective disorder). But make sure to always, no matter what, even if you use Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil on the rest of your body (like me) use at least SPF 30 on your face!! (And preferably your hands, too). A bronzer can give you that tan look now, but there is no covering up those wrinkles when you're 35 and spent way, WAY too much time out in the sun... (like my apartment neighbor who, by her body, can't be older than 35.. but her face looks 60. Why? I see her putting tanning oil ON HER FACE!!) So if you're going to get a tan, do it the healthier way... Take advantage of the free, beautiful sunlight.

And in the words of my friend Stephanie, "Tan fat looks better than pale fat." Haha! :)

Tips: Baking Soda

I read this article on Yahoo! and thought that, though a majority of you probably read Yahoo! as well, I might as well pass it along for those of you who don't. It lists a bunch of great tips and tricks to use baking soda for, and I'm excited especially for some of the personal care ones (like toothpaste and face scrubs). Enjoy!

Personal Care
1. Make toothpaste
A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. (I've included the recipe for an organic minty version at the bottom) You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost.

2. Freshen your mouth
Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit, and rinse. Odors are neutralized, not just covered up.

3. Soak oral appliance
Soak oral appliances (like retainers, mouthpieces, and dentures) in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water. The baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.

4. Use as a facial scrub and body exfoliant
Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use.

5. Skip harsh deodorant
Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.

6. Use as an antacid
Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions.

7. Treat insect bites and itchy skin
For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower.

8. Make a hand cleanser and softener
Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or 3 parts baking soda with gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.

9. Help your hair
Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly — baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

10. Clean brushes and combs
For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.

11. Make a bath soak
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration. It also makes your skin feel very soft. Or just focus on soothing your feet. Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub.


Cleaning 
12. Make a surface soft scrub
For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile, and sinks — even fiberglass and glossy tiles — sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with baking soda, coarse salt, and liquid dish soap — let it sit then scour off.

13. Hand-wash dishes and pots and pans
Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots, and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratch-less scouring powder.

14. Freshen sponges
Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). For more thorough disinfecting, use the microwave.

15. Clean the microwave
Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.

16. Polish silver flatware
Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.

17. Clean coffee and tea pots
Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.

18. Clean the oven
Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.

19. Clean floors
Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no-wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water — mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse.

20. Clean furniture
Clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.

21. Clean shower curtains
Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.

22. Boost your liquid laundry detergent
Give your laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter. Or you can add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels or to neutralize gym clothes and odoriferous clothing.

23. Clean and freshen sports gear
Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf bags and gym bags to deodorize and clean golf irons (without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.

24. Remove oil and grease stains
Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.

25. Clean batteries
Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc., because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and reconnecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery — they contain a strong acid.

26. Clean cars
Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats, and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs, and tar. For stubborn stains use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum up the baking soda.


Deodorizing 
27. Deodorize your refrigerator
Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.

28. Deodorize trashcans and recyclables
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay. Clean your recyclables container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Also, sprinkle baking soda on top as you add recyclables to the bin.

29. Deodorize drains and garbage disposals
To deodorize your sink and tub drains and garbage disposal and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water — it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. (This a good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your refrigerator.)

30. Deodorize and clean dishwashers
Use baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser in the wash cycle.

31. Deodorize lunch boxes
Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to absorb lingering odors.

32. Remove odor from carpets
Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight or as long as possible (the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest. (Note that your vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.) An added bonus: You'll also deodorize your vacuum cleaner.

33. Freshen closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh.

34. Deodorize pet items
Cover the bottom of your cat box with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter. To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a thorough cleaning. Eliminate odors from your pet's bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up.

35. Deodorize sneakers
Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when not in use. Shake out before wearing.

36. Freshen stuffed animals
Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off.


Miscellaneous
37. Cure all camping needs
Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. It's a dish-washer, pot-scrubber, hand-cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, and fire extinguisher, and has many other uses.

38. Extinguish fires
Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide, which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans, broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire — and call the fire department just to be safe.

39. Care for the septic system
Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system flowing freely. One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank.

40. Scrub fruits and vegetables
Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. Here’s another way to clean your vegetables as well.





Minty Baking Soda Toothpaste

INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, finely ground
1 drop peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove, or cinnamon bark essential oil
A few drops tap water

Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix them thoroughly with a toothbrush, your finger, or a small spoon until a smooth, thick paste forms. The paste shouldn’t be too runny; it has to stay on your toothbrush.

Dip your toothbrush into the paste and use as you would regular commercial toothpaste.

dear elizabeth part 2

Dear Elizabeth,

I just moved out of my old apartment and into a new one, but let me back up. Approximately two months before my lease expired my roommate took a position with her company that was out of state and signed over the entire lease to me; I assumed all responsibility for the lease. Her company offers relocation benefits so they gave me her “half” of the rent for the final two months so I wasn’t stuck with the full rent. So even though I was fully responsible for the lease, she basically “bought out” her half for the final two months.

My old roommate and I were, and still are, good friends. When she moved, we didn’t “deep clean” the apartment because I was still living there. She told me she’d still help me clean out the apartment when the lease was up since she was really just “legally” removing herself from responsibility of the apartment but still planned on using it when she came to visit her family. She kept a key to the apartment after she moved so when she came back to town she could come and go from the apartment at her leisure. This was totally fine with me. She probably came back for about 4 long weekends during her time away; about 2 of those times her mom stayed, too.

Also, I used the apartment “lightly” while she was gone. I spent a lot of time at my boyfriend’s house – evenings, weekend days, ate most meals with him, etc (I didn’t have cable or internet once she left so there was not much going on at my apartment anymore haha). So really, I pretty much only used my apartment for sleeping and laundry when she was gone.


When her mom was in town for 10 days (the final 10 days of the lease), she stayed at my apartment, even though my old roommate was only there on the weekends during her stay. Again, I was okay with this. As I started to pack boxes and move (I had my new place 10 days before my old lease expired so there was an overlap), I deliberately didn’t pack things like my TV, blankets, dishes, etc so that her mom could keep using my stuff throughout her stay. And when I did some pre-cleaning, I didn’t clean common areas since she was still using it.

When it came time to “deep clean” my friend told me she’d clean her room, her bathroom, vacuum and clean the fridge. On the final day of the lease we had to be out by noon so I got there early to finish cleaning and when I got there, my old roommate and her family were already gone. She cleaned out the fridge, vacuumed and cleaned her bathroom like she said. But her bathroom needed to be touched up due to dirty sink handles, the vacuuming job was not done well (I used a roll of tape to pick up some loose “stuff” on the carpet), I had to dust the heater vent (the kind that runs along the entire wall) in her room and wash her windows and window frame in her room. On top of that, I still had to do about 4 hours of detailed cleaning in the “common areas” of the house.

Now the issue here is this: we both paid $150 in deposits when we moved in for a total of $300. When the apartment manager did her final walk through she said it looked great and indicated we’d get the entire deposit back. Since the lease was turned over to me and is in my name, I technically will get the entire $300 check.

Considering ALL the above (our friendship, her mom’s presence limiting my ability to move my stuff and clean in my own timing, the cleaning she said she did versus what was actually done and I was left to re-do, the time I spent cleaning the “common areas” of the apartment, and the fact that the lease was signed over to me), what part, if any, of the deposit should I give to her assuming we will get all $300 back?

Signed,

In a quandary!


Dear Quandary,

I've been thinking about this, and I think I have a fairly simple answer, but maybe not the one you're looking for. I definitely understand what you're saying about how you had to clean it up by yourself pretty much, and that really sucks! I'll be honest and say that though my answer may be mature, I'd probably want to do what you want to, which is keep more than half for yourself.

BUT I would suggest this: I assume that you plan on continuing your friendship with this girl? If so, remember that the friendship means a lot more than a hundred dollars or so. I would talk to her about it. Say, "Hey 'Jane', we're expecting to get our deposit back and I wanted to ask you about how we're planning on splitting it up." Explain to her what you explained to me. It's pretty likely she'll understand and let you keep the larger portion, but if she doesn't, you still have a clear conscience.

I can almost guarantee that if you do keep the money without talking to her, you'll feel guilty - and that's DEFINITELY not worth a hundred bucks - even in this poor economy=)

Good luck, and I hope it works out for you!

dear elizabeth

Per request, I am doing a "dear abbey" type post for a friend who has come to me for advice. Please feel free to read and input your own advice in the comments section!


Dear Elizabeth-

I have always been the kind of person who treasures "few" close friends than many aquaintences. I also believe that friendships require both friends making effort. Having moved around to several different states over the years, I've learned that you really learn who your friends are when it takes a little bit more effort than running into each other in your daily grind (work, church, etc).

I have a friend here in Nevada who I will call Sue. We've been good friends since I moved here almost 3 years ago. We have a lot in common and enjoy hanging out. But since she has a kid and I am unmarried, anytime we hang out outside of work I go up to her house, which is about a 30 minute drive (no big deal, really). We watch movies, go places with her kid, etc. She has been to my house once: for a work party I hosted. Again, not really a big deal: the point is that we get to hang out and it's easier for me to go there with her being married with a kid.

The issue? I am very actively involved in a softball team. The game times are not always convenient but I've had about 20 games in the past 6 months and about a third of them were on a Saturday night (aka not a work night). Sue has not made any efforts to come and see me play, even though she knows how much it would mean to me for her to be there. I guess I just feel like it would be nice for her to make the effort, even if it means staying up later than her normal bedtime, straying from her normal routine, or making the 30-45 minute drive to come.

I have always been the one to drive to see her, hang out at her house because it was more convienient for her, etc. And I don't feel like it's unreasonable to expect that she makes the effort to come to watch me play sometime. She calls me one of her best friends, yet, when it comes to stuff that is important to me, I feel like she could care less.

Is it normal to assume that a close friend would do everything she could, even if it meant breaking her routine or staying up past her bedtime, to come to something that is important to me? Or am I being totally selfish?

Signed,

driving alone on a two way street




Dear Driving Alone,


I can certainly understand why you are a little upset! It definitely isn't unreasonable for you to want her to visit you every now and then. Friendship should definitely be a two-way street. 


That said, friendship is also about communication, so I have a question for you: 


have you asked her out for ice cream or lunch (near her home) and tried communicating your frustration to her? If not, that would be my first step of advice. I would encourage you to tell her that you really value her friendship and love spending time with her, but that it hurts you that she is unwilling to come to anything that is important to you. One thing that may be hindering her that may be helpful to bring up is her child. Tell her that it's OKAY!! if she brings her child with her to games or even to some hang out events (obviously not if you're going to go out for a drink, but if you're having a movie night and don't mind her child going to bed early on your bed, this may be a good opportunity.)


If this fails, I would slowly distance yourself from the relationship. Here is the key here: don't ever tell her you're disappointed in her as a friend and that's why you're hanging out less. But if she knows you would appreciate her coming/driving to your home and games and important events and still doesn't, even if you've made her child feel welcome as well, it may be time to hang out a little less often. Because friendship is a two-way street, don't stop hanging out with her, but it's not unreasonable to hang out less and be less willing to drive so far.


Also, even suggest meeting her halfway for lunch, or for a child-appropriate movie (I'm unsure of her child's age so I'm guessing here.) Hopefully she will understand that you really appreciate and love her as a friend, but need her input and participation as well.


Don't forget how important communication and love is to a friendship. Definitely, if you haven't already, try talking to her about your feelings. If she truly is a good friend, she'll be willing to hear you out, and probably to drive every now and then.


Good luck!!


Elizabeth

Budgeting Time and Money

There are two things lately that we just don't seem to have enough of - time and money.

The issue of time is an interesting one because it's not really something either of us can change. I'm taking 22 units at school, plus go to 5-6 one-hour classes at the gym each week (which really turns into two hours between the time it takes me to get there, set up, stretch, and get home.) Besides that, I also have mountains of homework, that, even with major neglect, still take up a significant amount of my time daily. Finally, I also have a house and cooking to keep up with! Whew!

Paul is significantly busy as well. He works on average 50 hours a week, and he also is taking 11 units at school. When he is home, he is either doing homework or is just plain worn out. 

So as you can see, our dilemma is not that we don't manage our time well ... au contraire. We actually manage our time much better when we have TOO much to do because we just have to make it all fit in there somehow. (When I was home Christmas break with literally NOTHING to do ... I could hardly even make myself get out of bed except one time when I went to lunch to see my friends Claire and Kelly.)

Thursday, and usually Friday nights are our freedom nights. We'll do homework on Saturdays and Sundays when things must be turned in soon, but Thursday, we finally get to sit down on the couch and do that good ol' American pastime - watching television. 

There is a few difficulties regarding the time issue that I really just wish I could explain. 

1) Paul and I are suffering from the strain. It's hard not feeling like we ever have time to really sit down and talk. I guess I should just be thankful we're home at about the same times, and not working opposite schedules or something...

2) Friends and family sometimes seem to forget this season of their lives (or were never in it) when school and work and work and school take up all of the time, and get a little upset when we don't spend time with them ... this frustrates me because when we do spend time with friends and family we're also sacrificing number 1, which is key to a good marriage (spending time together!) So it's difficult - not that we don't want to spend time with friends and family (we wish we could socialize much more often) but it's difficult that we can't, and even more frustrating when people don't understand! 

Then there is the issue of money. When I worked, we always had a lot of extra money. We paid all of our credit card bills off each month, to the point that when we tried to get another card, we couldn't because they rejected us due to us paying off our cards too much! When I quit my job to go back to school double-time, our income dropped by about 1000 a month - although I did get 2000 in Pell Grants for each semester (amounting to about 400 a month if you look at it broken up.) However, our spending did not seem to change much. We were used to a certain lifestyle, and it is hard to break.

I was talking to my sister about this the other day and she gave me a good tip. I've been wanting to get on a budget often lately but just haven't been able to figure out how. She sent me a copy of a spreadsheet that she and her husband use, and it is simple enough to start at any time - although we're going to wait until the end of the month just to make sure that we are working everything correctly. And, of course, also for convenience :)

Also, we're doing something else. We are going to designate each of our credit cards for a specific type of spending so we can really track where our money is going and how much we have left. We should have our credit debt down to 0 by next month when I get my next Pell Grant (we've never had more than 2000 in debt - I hate debt!) and then the plan of splitting the credit cards plus the budget spreadsheet should help us work our budget seamlessly - or so we hope - as well as help us build our credit as we continue to use our credit cards and pay them off. 

If you're interested, this is how we're doing it. If you're anything like the rest of America, and likely the world, you need help with your budget - so take our tips and use them as they work for you.

Spreadsheet - if you're interested in using it, let me know and I will share it with you and explain how it works so you can edit it for your use.

Credit Card 1: Health Bills. This card consists of our health insurance bill and our gym membership, as well as any prescriptions or medicine.

Credit Card 2: Regular bills. This card consists of internet, phone, electric, and car insurance bills.

Credit Card 3: Eating out & miscellaneous. Pretty self-explanatory but this also consists of any household items we'll need to buy.

Credit Card 4: Gas card.

Credit Card 5 (mine only): Groceries.

Not only do we have these bills split up onto different credit cards, but we also have them split according to the types of rewards we get. For instance, the grocery card has rewards for money spent at grocery stores! The regular bills card has rewards in general for money spent, and since that is the card where we spend the most ... you get the idea :) The first two cards, the bills cards, are left at home, out of our wallets. Credit cards are just too tempting - especially for me, when I know that I pay the bills by myself (or used to) and can "get away" with spending a little extra here and there ... that's another thing. Paul and I will be doing the spreadsheet together now, creating some accountability!

Hopefully our money tip was helpful to you, as it was helpful to me when passed along by my sister. Let me know what you think.