Our Good Life: March 2017

Posted by Terri Steffes / 31 March 2017 / lunch

Lettuce Wraps with Tuna and Avocado

I have embraced a new sugar-free, dairy-free and gluten-free diet for the past 8 weeks. I have enjoyed a sixteen pound weight loss which is fabulous but the main thing is that I am feeling so good!  I can feel my mood brighten, my mental clarity is back and overall feel a sense of wellness. I have a long road ahead but I can sense that this eating style will be with me for the rest of my life.<br />
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One of the things I have missed is bread. Bread and I were best buddies. I decided to not look for a replacement but instead look for another way of eating. For me lettuce wraps were a wonderful way to eat sandwich style ingredients in a healthy way.  I love butter lettuce and for me it makes a perfect wrap because the leaves are pliable. I also love the mild taste of butter lettuce after all, the word butter must be a good thing!<br />
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Lettuce wraps with Tuna and Avocado</div>
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1 can Tuna</div>
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1 avocado</div>
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6 large butter lettuce leaves</div>
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2 slices onion </div>
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Lime</div>
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Garlic powder</div>
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Pink Himalayan salt</div>
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Fresh ground pepper</div>
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Wash lettuce and pat dry. Drain tuna, flake and put into a medium mixing bowl. Chop avocado and add to the bowl. Add chopped onion and seasonings.  Add the juice of 1/2 the lime. Mix gently.  Take one lettuce leaf and spoon 1/6th of the mixture into the center of the leaf. Place on plate. Continue with the five other lettuce leaves.  Serve chilled or at room temperature. </div>
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This is delicious!  I am glad it makes the amount it does, as it was a perfect amount for two.  So fresh and delicious.  I didn't miss the mayo since the avocado is creamy.  The butter lettuce is strong enough to hold the filling, too, so it is not messy at all.<br />
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Perfect spring meal!</div>

Lettuce Wraps with Tuna and Avocado

I have embraced a new sugar-free, dairy-free and gluten-free diet for the past 8 weeks. I have enjoyed a sixteen pound weight loss which is ...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 30 March 2017 / book review

A Stolen Heart #ourgoodlifebooklist

The first in a series, this historical fiction novel, A Stolen Heart by Amanda Cabot,  takes place in fictional Cimarron Creek, Texas.  Lydia Crawford, a "Yankee" from New York, has the audacity to move to Texas years after the end of the Civil War, while tensions are still tight from the carpetbaggers who swept through town and stole from the residents.  She does get a warm welcome from the Sheriff, Travis Whitfield, who is expecting his father to come home.  His father is the worst of the residents for hating the Yankees, as he lost his leg in the war. <br />
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Lydia comes to Cimarron Creek to find her fiance and to marry, but learns quickly that he has married someone else and has disappeared mysteriously.  Thus begins our journey through a windy road of crime that has come to town.  Edgar's disappearance, the rape of a woman, the poisoning of farm animals, all since Travis has become sheriff.  At a loss of what to do, Lydia is saved by Travis' delightful aunt Bertha, who offers her lodging, but a lot more, friendship.  Lydia vows never to marry, since Edgar betrayed her, and Bertha offers her a shoulder to cry on and comfort with sound advice.<br />
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The story moves forward with more crime, and with Lydia's increasing friendship with Travis.  The two work together on the crimes, while Bertha helps Lydia open a candy shop.  This is my favorite part of the book, reading about the plans of the shop, the candies they will make, the designs, the interaction of the town's unfriendly women to Lydia.  The only thing that would have made it even better would be a recipe for the fudge!<br />
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My skeptical side wonders how a candy story that sells chocolate could manage in the heat of Texas. There weren't many confectionaries during that time and in a small town, these folks seemed to have plenty of money for their treats. We don't hear about kids drooling at the window or coming in to beg for a treat, even though in Lydia's former life she was a schoolteacher.<br />
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The book has a Christian background that plays an important part, and it does delve into the evil that can hide in a person's soul.  It isn't all cherries and rainbows.  The author does a great job of making sure that these elements are equally distributed, without getting too dark or too syrupy.<br />
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All that said, I did enjoy the book and I plan to read book two when it is out.  I recommend it to you, too, are you interested in reading it?<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I was given this book by Revell Reads in exchange for my honest opinion.</span></i></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Heart-Cimarron-Creek-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B01LX9TB4S/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1490368815&sr=8-1&keywords=a+stolen+heart+amanda+cabot&linkCode=li2&tag=our071-20&linkId=4583d90c2373f1b7b7ac4a4094d68f5e" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01LX9TB4S&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=our071-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=our071-20&l=li2&o=1&a=B01LX9TB4S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />

A Stolen Heart #ourgoodlifebooklist

The first in a series, this historical fiction novel, A Stolen Heart by Amanda Cabot, takes place in fictional Cimarron Creek, Texas. Lydi...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 29 March 2017 / #chewy

Truman and Wilson February #ChewyInfluencer

Truman and Wilson love their morning walk with their dad, regardless of the weather.  They are the first ones up in the house, usually pulling on the covers to get Bob out of bed.  Wilson is the most eager to go, jumping up in big leaps or running circles around Bob's feet.  I sleep blissfully through it all, unless Bob happens to be out of town.<br />
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After their walk, it is time for breakfast.  Both dogs have special needs diets, which requires them to be patient while Bob prepares their food.  In order to gain a little peace, he often gives them one of these Fromm's cookies.  We call them cookies, and at only 12 calories a treat, it doesn't upset their appetites.  Truman and Wilson prefer savory treats over sweet ones, and these come in a parmesan cookie that they really love.<br />
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Since it is National Puppy Day, we are blessed to call these dogs our family.  Their stories are unique and heartwarming, especially Wilson's, who has had many lovely people looking after him over his life.  We are so glad to be one of them.<br />
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Do you have a dog or a pet that you love?  You should go and check out chewy.com for their wonderful selection of toys, treats and all things pets.  It is a great way to spoil them without leaving your home!<br />
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Truman and Wilson February #ChewyInfluencer

Truman and Wilson love their morning walk with their dad, regardless of the weather. They are the first ones up in the house, usually pulli...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 28 March 2017 / #PBColorOurWorld

Color My World~Green #PBColorMyWorld

What a perfect color to highlight in the month of March:  <span style="color: lime;">GREEN</span>!  St. Patrick's Day, the color of the new grass in spring, all great reasons for us to share with you all the good that is going on green-wise in March!<br />
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I love that the word "green" comes from the words grass and grow.  Isn't that perfect?  Green is mostly associated with life and birth, but there are some that see it as a color of mourning.  Green also indicates safety, like in the green light in our traffic signals.  In the Middle Ages green was worn by the middle class, as evidenced in the Mona Lisa by da Vinci, and the benches in the House of Commoners are green.<br />
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Our Project Beautiful bloggers have been busy with their gardens this month and have brought to you a variety of wonderful green things to share with you.  First, let's start up in the northeast part of the country with Lee at <a href="http://landscapedesignbylee.blogspot.com/2017/03/this-months-color-in-garden-role-of.html#.WNqJYG_yvX5" target="_blank">Landscape Design by Lee. </a>  Lee is going to tell you how green is used in Japanese gardens.  It is a beautiful post and this will inspire you to go and see more!<br />
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Lynn at <a href="http://sensiblegardening.com/the-unexpected-green-flower/" target="_blank">Sensible Gardening</a> will tell you all about unusual green flowers.  I loved this post, as I believe green blossoms set off any color of flower you have.  Just try it.  Your pinks seem pinker, your reds more deep.  It is the perfect accent color for a bouquet.  She got me with this green daylily.<br />
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Susan at <a href="http://landscapedesignbylee.blogspot.com/2017/03/this-months-color-in-garden-role-of.html#.WNqJYG_yvX5" target="_blank">Blooming Secrets</a> talks to us about green all year long.  I snagged this photo from her blog to show off the beautiful greens you find in the spring.  I particularly liked the section on green in the winter, though.  Gorgeous.<br />
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My contribution this month was talking about the <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/03/time-to-plant-salad-bowl.html" target="_blank">Salad Bowl Gardening</a>.  Getting ready for it and the nutritious plants you can grow in such a small space.  I had salad for weeks!<br />
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If you are a blogger who likes to garden, please check us out on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/995658820516345/" target="_blank">Facebook group</a>.  Send me a PM at Terri Oliver Steffes that you would like to join us!  We are a group that supports one another in various ways through blogging and our facebook pages.<br />
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Color My World~Green #PBColorMyWorld

What a perfect color to highlight in the month of March: GREEN ! St. Patrick's Day, the color of the new grass in spring, all great r...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 27 March 2017 / Food 'n' Flix

The Martian #foodnflix

I was so excited when Wendy from <a href="http://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Day in the Life on the Farm</a> chose The Martian as our March movie for #FoodnFlix.  I read the book a few years back and was so anxious for the movie to come out. Our book club went together to see the movie and we all agreed that the movie did the book justice.<br />
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<a href="http://www.foodnflixclub.com/" target="_blank">Food 'n' Flix </a>is a monthly group that uses the chosen film as inspiration in the kitchen.  You can check out the hashtage #FoodnFlix to find more of what we have done on Facebook and Instagram.<br />
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This movie is one of my top movies ever.  The science of it, Matt Damon, the intrigue, the humor, all made to make this movie a movie lovers delight.  Some of my favorite quotes are, "I'm going to need to science the shit out of this," and "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am definitely going to die up here ... if I have to listen to any more god-awful disco music," made me giggle out loud.  </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So how to be inspired?  Mark Watney gets left on Mars with 300 astronaut meals and four potatoes. He knows that he will need to be on the planet 4 years, so he needs about three years worth of food to survive.  Since he is "the best botanist on the planet" he sets out to turn the four potatoes into three years of food.  You'll have to watch the movie to see how that all turns out.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My inspiration was to find a way to use all the potato, including the skin.  The skin has some of the best nutrients, so we want to be sure to use it.  If I consider what he had left to use: grape juice, ketchup, olive oil, instant coffee and salt and pepper, I would be too limited, so I did take advantage of the ingredients I have around me to make this dish.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sweet Potato Fries</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">2 T grapeseed oil (or whatever oil you have on hand)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">salt and pepper</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Preheat oven to 400. Prepare a cookie sheet with nonstick foil. Leaving the peel on, cut sweet potatoes with a sharp knife lengthwise.  The sweet potato is a solid vegetable, so you may need to put some weight behind the knife.  Be careful, though, and curve your fingers inward to avoid getting cut. Toss the raw fries in olive oil and salt and pepper.  Pour onto cookie sheet, in a single layer.  Roast for 25-30 minutes (we like a little char).  Serve with horseradish sauce or mayo for dipping.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">A fantastic film and if you watch it, eat a few potato chips.  It's a cool experience!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">A little kudos to my husband, this is the reason we do not go out for steaks. ♥</span></span>

The Martian #foodnflix

I was so excited when Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm chose The Martian as our March movie for #FoodnFlix. I read the book a few ...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 26 March 2017 / cocktail

Ruby Red Mimosa #SundaySupper

We are celebrating all things citrus at #SundaySupper this week.  I love all citrus, especially lemon and grapefruit.  I am not a fan of the fruit part of grapefruit, but I love the juice and things that are flavored with grapefruit.  So when my husband's friend told me about this particular vodka, I knew I had to give it a try.<br />
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The freshness of the citrus with the sparkling Prosecco was a perfect combination.  It is dry and a little sweet and sparkling.  The fruit soaks up the citrusy-goodness and it is delicious, too.  Eat it last!</div>
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I can see this being my go-to summer drink.  It is so easy to make and it is refreshing.  I keep my vodka in the freezer anyway, so that means the drink will be cold and ready to serve!</div>
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Ruby Mimosa</div>
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Prosecco (enough to fill your glass, approx 5 oz)</div>
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1 oz Grapefruit Vodka (I prefer Deep Eddy Ruby Red)</div>
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Strawberry or Raspberry for garnish</div>
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Make sure your Prosecco and Vodka are cold.  In a polished champagne glass, pour in the vodka. Add garnish. (I know, garnish usually comes at the end but in this case we want the strawberry to grab the bubbles of the prosecco!).  Slowly pour in the prosecco to the top of the glass.  Stir with a stirring stick, gently.  </div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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Sunday Supper Citrus Recipes That Will Make You Smile</h2>
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Appetizers</h4>
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<li><a href="http://www.thefreshmancook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lemon Lime Shrimp Cocktail w/a Citrus Yogurt Dipping Sauce</a>  by The Freshman Cook</li>
<li><a href="http://feedingbig.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mango Citrus Salsa</a>  by Feeding Big</li>
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Breakfasts</h4>
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<li><a href="http://carolinescooking.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chocolate Orange Cinnamon Rolls</a>  by Caroline's Cooking</li>
<li><a href="http://www.alittlefishinthekitchen.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Creamy Vanilla-Orange Overnight Oats</a>  by A Little Fish in the Kitchen</li>
<li><a href="http://familyaroundthetable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Key Lime Muffins with Key Lime Glaze</a>  by Family Around The Table</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thebittersideofsweet.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lemon Donut Holes</a>  by The Bitter Side of Sweet</li>
<li><a href="http://www.piesandplots.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lemon Poppy Seed Quick Bread</a>  by Pies and Plots</li>
<li><a href="http://www.reneeskitchenadventures.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lemon Ricotta Pancakes</a>  by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures</li>
<li><a href="http://www.akitchenhoorsadventures.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Muffins</a>  by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures</li>
<li><a href="http://www.jerseygirlcooks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins</a>  by Jersey Girl Cooks</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Main Dishes</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.sprinklesandsprouts.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">10 Minute Lemon Pasta With Crispy Basil</a>  by Sprinkles and Sprouts</li>
<li><a href="http://www.brunchnbites.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Asian Lemon Chicken</a>  by Brunch-n-Bites</li>
<li><a href="http://www.asianinamericamag.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Calamansi Shrimp on Couscous</a>  by Asian In America</li>
<li><a href="http://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Citrus Marinated Chicken Thighs</a>  by A Day in the Life on the Farm</li>
<li><a href="http://www.wendyweekendgourmet.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Citrus-Glazed Scallops with Chunky Avocado Salsa</a>  by The Weekend Gourmet</li>
<li><a href="http://cricketsconfections.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lemon Ricotta Spaghetti with Peas</a>  by Cricket's Confections</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Meyer Lemon Chicken Piccata</a>  by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings</li>
<li><a href="http://www.fantasticalsharing.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One Pan Parmesan Lemon Chicken and Asparagus</a>  by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes</li>
<li><a href="https://palatablepastime.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Orange Beef</a>  by Palatable Pastime</li>
<li><a href="http://amindfullmom.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Orange Chicken</a>  by A Mind “Full” Mom</li>
<li><a href="http://www.mysavoryspoon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Skillet Roasted Lemon Chicken</a>  by My Savory Spoon</li>
<li><a href="http://www.simpleandsavory.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slow Cooked Orange Chicken Breasts</a>  by Simple and Savory</li>
<li><a href="http://wholisticwoman.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thai Lime Basil Chicken Stir Fry</a>  by Wholistic Woman</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Sides</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.xhomesweethomesteadx.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cilantro Lime Quinoa</a>  by Home Sweet Homestead</li>
<li><a href="http://www.yummysmells.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tiny Batch Blood Orange Marmalade</a>  by What Smells So Good?</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Desserts</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.grumpyshoneybunch.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Banana Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting</a>  by Grumpy’s Honeybunch</li>
<li><a href="http://sundaysuppermovement.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clementine Pistachio Pomegranate Upside Down Cake</a>  by Sunday Supper Movement</li>
<li><a href="http://ninjabaker.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Easy Japanese Lemon Yuzu Bars</a>  by The Ninja Baker</li>
<li><a href="https://fooddonelight.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Key Lime Chiffon Pie</a>  by Food Done Light</li>
<li><a href="http://positivelystacey.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ladyfinger Lemon Torte Recipe</a>  by Positively Stacey</li>
<li><a href="http://cosmopolitancornbread.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lemon & Blueberry Skillet Cake</a>  by Cosmopolitan Cornbread</li>
<li><a href="http://www.crazedmom.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lemon Key Lime Layer Snack Cakes</a>  by Crazed Mom</li>
<li><a href="http://www.soulfullymade.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Meyer Lemon Creme Brulee</a>  by Soulfully Made</li>
<li><a href="http://recipesfoodandcooking.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Meyer Lemon Mousse</a>  by Recipes Food and Cooking</li>
<li><a href="http://www.baking-sense.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pink Grapefruit Meringue Tart</a>  by Baking Sense</li>
<li><a href="https://gourmeteveryday.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sittin’ On a Sandbar Key Lime Pie</a>  by Gourmet Everyday</li>
<li><a href="http://ourlifetastesgood.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe</a>  by Life Tastes Good</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thatskinnychickcanbake.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Best Lemon Bars Recipe</a>  by That Skinny Chick Can Bake</li>
<li><a href="http://thecrumbycupcake.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Triple Citrus Macaroon Mascarpone Tart</a>  by The Crumby Cupcake</li>
<li><a href="http://shakentogetherlife.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Triple Lemon Poke Cake</a>  by Shaken Together</li>
</ul>
<h4>
Beverages</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.hezzi-dsbooksandcooks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Homemade Grapefruit Soda</a>  by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dizzybusyandhungry.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pineapple Orange Smoothie</a>  by Dizzy Busy and Hungry</li>
<li><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ruby Red Mimosa</a>  by Our Good Life</li>
<li><a href="http://mylifecookbook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Meyer Lemon Margaritas</a>  by My Life Cookbook</li>
<li><a href="http://cookbookshelf.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watermelon Limeade</a>  by From the Bookshelf</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.sundaysuppermovement.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Sunday Supper Movement" height="100" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8386732081_f232fda104_t.jpg" width="100" /></a><strong>Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday!</strong> We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sundaysupper" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#SundaySupper hashtag</a> and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great <a href="http://www.sundaysuppermovement.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sunday Supper Recipes</a>, visit our website or check out our <a href="http://pinterest.com/thesundaysupper/sundaysupper/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a>.  <strong>Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement?</strong> It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: <a href="http://community.sundaysuppermovement.com/join-the-community/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sunday Supper Movement</a>.

Ruby Red Mimosa #SundaySupper

We are celebrating all things citrus at #SundaySupper this week. I love all citrus, especially lemon and grapefruit. I am not a fan of the...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 23 March 2017 / gardening

It's Purple Martin Time!

<div style="text-align: left;">I can never think of this slogan without thinking about my sister, Tammi.  When she was in third grade, she wore a button in her school picture that said, "It's Purple Martin Time" that she must have received from a guest speaker at school.  She certainly didn't leave our house with it on!  It makes me chuckle every time this time of year comes around.</div><br />
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In our area, the scout birds of the purple martins are out looking for suitable housing for their families.  Purple martins only use the housing while they are raising families.  It is important to get the houses cleaned and ready to go for when the scouts are out and about.  <a href="https://www.purplemartin.org/purple-martins/attracting/46/timing/" target="_blank">Migration Map</a><br />
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There is a lot of thought that goes <a href="https://www.purplemartin.org/purple-martins/housing-standards/60/choosing-purple-martin-housing/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">into purple martin housing. </a> We have always been lucky enough to have the housing already on location for us.  We don't have a housing unit now, but there is one across the street from us.  I like to make sure that the housing is clean and in good order by this time of the year.<br />
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Why my interest in purple martins?  Other than my sister's apparent love of the bird, Bob's uncle Amos (Steffes) loved purple martins.  He believed they kept the mosquito population down (which is why I love them) and they are a very social bird.  Amos was so funny about his purple martins and was always so interested in them that we became interested as well. <br />
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So, clean your purple martin houses!  Pull down the house unit.  Scrape off any bird dodo.  Mix up a 10% bleach and 90% water in a bucket.  Scrub the inside of the house with the bleach and then rinse it out with the house.  Let the house dry in the sun.  Amos used to plug up the holes until he saw the martins come around, then he'd lower the housing and undo the plugs.  Other birds will try to move it if you don't.  Then enjoy those feisty birds as they eat up all the mosquitoes in your yard!<br />
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It's Purple Martin Time!

I can never think of this slogan without thinking about my sister, Tammi. When she was in third grade, she wore a button in her school pict...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 22 March 2017 / breakfast

Make Ahead Egg Muffins

I love having eggs for my breakfast, but sometimes I just don't have the time to cook them fresh. This is when my Make Ahead Egg Muffins are so perfect.  Plus, using leftover roasted veggies makes this a thrifty choice and a healthy one for breakfast.<br />
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Notes:  I like to use the oversized muffin pans for these egg muffins.  I like to make sure that the cups are loaded with veggies but still enough room to hold the egg mixture.  I always coat my muffin tins with butter or coconut oil, so that the eggs come out easily.  I don't like to use cooking spray, as it tends to make clean up hard on my pan.<br />
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Make Ahead Egg Muffins<br />
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6 eggs<br />
1/2 c almond milk (any milk will do, even water!)<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
leftover vegetables, about 2 cups<br />
1/2 c shredded cheese, if desired<br />
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Preheat oven to 350.  Grease muffin tins with butter, Crisco, or coconut oil.  Set aside.  Crack eggs in a medium sized bowl, add milk (or water) and salt and pepper.  Whisk briskly for a minute.  Set aside. Fill muffin tins with the veggies, dividing evenly.  Add cheese if desired.  Pour the egg mixture over the veggies, dividing evenly.  Bake for 22-24 minutes, checking for doneness.  The egg mixture should not be liquid at all.  Remove from oven when done.  Serve warm from the oven or cool and store in refrigerator until ready to eat.  Microwave for 45 seconds and then serve.<br />
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These are perfect for your Easter breakfast, as they can be made ahead and heated up when you are ready!

Make Ahead Egg Muffins

I love having eggs for my breakfast, but sometimes I just don't have the time to cook them fresh. This is when my Make Ahead Egg Muffins...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 21 March 2017 / book review

Sandpiper Cove #ourgoodlifebooklist

A charming Oregon seaside village, an ex-con gone good, a beautiful police chief with a sad history, all come together in this lovely romantic story about Lexie and Adam, neither who were looking for romance, but somehow it found them.  The story of restored hope and second chances entices you to keep reading and will have you wanting the next book to come quickly!<br />
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The third in a series of Hope Harbor series, this book brings back the wonderful characters in the first two books, especially Charlie, the town's local sage and taco man, who always knows what to say and when to say it.  Every time Charlie comes into the story, I get hungry for fish tacos.<br />
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Irene Hannon is a master at character development.  Each of her novels' characters are unique individuals.  I always know that I have read a masterful piece when I miss the characters at the end of the book.  I definitely will miss Lexie and Adam, and hope to read more about them in the future.<br />
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This is your perfect summer romance novel.  The book is set for publication on April 4, go and order it and save (and savor) it for your vacation!

Sandpiper Cove #ourgoodlifebooklist

A charming Oregon seaside village, an ex-con gone good, a beautiful police chief with a sad history, all come together in this lovely romant...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 18 March 2017 / dinner , Soup

Sopa de calabaza mexicana #soupswappers

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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our Saturday Soup Swappers are headed south of the border with Mexican soups, perfect for your Cinco de Mayo party in May!  You will have time to try these out and choose the perfect one for your gathering.  We are hosted by Karen at <a href="http://www.karenskitchenstories.com/" target="_blank">Karen's Kitchen Stories</a> this month.  Karen has a wonderful food blog with all kinds of goodies, but if you like bread, well, you are going to be so inspired over there!</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">This pumpkin soup has a nice heat and sweetness to it.  It is made to accommodate my lifestyle, but I have put the equivalent in "normal" ingredients beside the ones that I use!  This soup is thick and perfect with a sandwich of your choosing.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfBLNx8Wiuk/WMryZd06qXI/AAAAAAAAkTw/xx5n-Dk3yswK0_RihCSIfzCuScb4K379gCLcB/s1600/IMG_1309.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfBLNx8Wiuk/WMryZd06qXI/AAAAAAAAkTw/xx5n-Dk3yswK0_RihCSIfzCuScb4K379gCLcB/s640/IMG_1309.PNG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you love the sweet pot holder? It was made by my mother in law, Irene, who suffers from Alzheimer's.</td></tr>
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Sopa de Calabaza Mexicana<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">½ cup pistachios (pumpkin seeds)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tablespoons olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 small onion – chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 cloves garlic – minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 small can mild green chilies – rinsed and chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 teaspoons powdered stevia (2 T brown sugar)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 teaspoon ground cumin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">½ teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">¼ teaspoon red chili flakes </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 (15 ounce) can pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mixture)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 cups vegetable stock</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk (or 1 1/2 c half and half or heavy cream)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(In a skillet over medium high heat toast pumpkin seeds for about 3 minutes until browned and you can smell the oils being released. Set aside.) If you use pistachios, skip this step.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In a large sauce pan heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent – about 5 minutes. Add garlic and chopped chilies. Sauté for 2 minutes. Add brown sugar, cumin, salt, pepper and red chili flakes. Sauté for another minute and then add the pumpkin, chicken or vegetable stock and coconut milk. Stir well. Reduce heat and cook until heated through (about 5 – 10 minutes).</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Process soup in blender in batches until smooth. Make sure you remove the center piece from the blender lid so that the soup does not explode in the blender.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Garnish soup with reserved pistachios (pumpkin seeds.)</span><br />
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Sopa de calabaza mexicana #soupswappers

Our Saturday Soup Swappers are headed south of the border with Mexican soups, perfect for your Cinco de Mayo party in May! You will have t...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 17 March 2017 / Salad bowl gardening

Time to Plant the Salad Bowl!

One of my favorite spring activities is to plant the Salad Bowl.  The Salad Bowl is a huge planter that I sow several kinds of lettuce, spinach, kale and swiss chard.  It is time to plant it and I am looking forward to eating fresh greens in a few weeks!<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Tip #1 </span> To speed up the process, I plant a few plants as well as seeds.  That way my crop is spread out and I get a longer run of greens. <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/04/salad-bowl-gardening.html"> Last year's crop </a>was wonderful, as you can see in the picture below.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Tip # 2 </span> Use good seeds!  This year we are planting using heirloom seeds that we purchased from the Missouri Botanical Gardens.  They have a wonderful seed selection and I am eager to see if we can tell the difference between the seeds we get at the Dollar Store and the seeds were purchased from MoBot.<br />
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Our selection includes:<br />
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Viroflay (spinach variety)<br />
Mesclun (a mix of Buttercrunch, Black Seeded Simpson, Green Salad Bowl, Lolla Rossa, Red Oak Leaf and Rouge d'Hiver)<br />
Wheatgreass<br />
Salad Bowl Blend (says we can continue sowing and get a fall crop!)<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Tip #3</span> We will plant 2 or so weeks before the last frost.  The soil does best when it is above 60 degrees. Sometimes we've guessed wrong about the last frost and still have had a good crop of greens. When someone tells me that they want to start gardening, this is what I tell them to start with! The seeds germinate quickly (usually within 5-10 days) and you can eat the ones that you thin out in a salad!<br />
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Here's what I use:<br />
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1 large garden pot (ours is about 18 inches in diameter)<br />
filler for the bottom third, we used crushed plastic bottles and rock<br />
good soil for the rest of the pot<br />
seeds of your choice or you can use plants from the nursery<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Tip #4  </span>Move your pot where you want it.  Most salad greens like full morning sun and some shade in the afternoon. Place your filler in the pot.  If you want, lay a layer of newspaper on top.  Cover the newspaper with your soil.  Tamper the soil with a lid from a kettle.  Not too hard, but enough to get a firm layer of soil in the pot.  Plant your seeds to the depth recommended on the seed package. Lightly water with a spray bottle. Water with the spray bottle often, if you see the soil getting too dry, spray it down.  When the seedlings pop up, then you can spray it a little less often but still when the soil feels dry.  As the roots are established, you can start using the hose, on a spray setting.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Tip #5 </span>When the little plants are about 4" high, you can start harvesting them, but I generally let mine grow to 6" and then I only take a few leaves at a time.  Once the garden is firmly established, you can take more and more!  I make salads, or when the greens are coming on heavily, I use them in my smoothies.  So good!<br />
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Let me know if you make a Salad Bowl Garden!  Can't wait to hear back from you.<br />
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Time to Plant the Salad Bowl!

One of my favorite spring activities is to plant the Salad Bowl. The Salad Bowl is a huge planter that I sow several kinds of lettuce, spin...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 15 March 2017 / museum

Degas and the Paris Millinery Trade

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The St. Louis Art Museum has an exhibit on the works of Edgar Degas and his fascination with hats, the women who made them and the women who wore them.  The paintings and hats in the displays were from 1875 to 1914.   Sixty paintings are featured including works by Degas that have never been seen in the United States.  There was an amazing display of vintage hats.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I KNOW I would have begged for this hat!</td></tr>
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Other impressionists work is displayed:  Edward Manet, Pierre Renoir, Mary Cassatt, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.  These works also show the women in the millinery making hats, with shops full of fabrics and ribbons.  The paintings were of all medium, including pastels.<br />
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During this time in Paris, over 1000 millinery shops were in business.  Today there are only 40 such shops in business.   Degas loved the millinery.  It was said that he liked to create hats as well as paint the women wearing them.<br />
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My daughter, a professor of fashion, came down to see this special event.  Her dad and I tagged along.  How often do you get an expert to walk you through an exhibit?  We had a wonderful time and saw some wonderful works of art in both paintings and millinery.<br />
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After exploring the exhibit, we spent a little time in a delightful gift shop that is set up right by the exhibit.  Full of jewelry, hats (of course) and books of all kinds, including a special book about the Degas exhibit.  If you are in the St. Louis area, it is a delightful exhibit to see.  It is open through May 7, 2017.<br />
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Degas and the Paris Millinery Trade

The St. Louis Art Museum has an exhibit on the works of Edgar Degas and his fascination with hats, the women who made them and the women w...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 14 March 2017 / book review

Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, a genre I head toward when I want a good meaty story, with enough information to make me feel the story is real.  I love history and learning so this is a match made in heaven for me.<br />
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Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson is a story based off the Whitman Mission massacre, which I was unfamiliar with.  After reading this book, I did a little research on this event and found that the author did a nice job of using the facts of the event and creating a story that wove in the details as they could have happened to this family.  To me, that shows a historical fiction author's ability to write.  She also created a fictional character and wove a story around the real event in such a way that made you believe the whole story was true.  THAT's what good historical fiction does.<br />
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The main character, Grace Martindale and her two sisters set off with her husband to go and be missionaries to the far West.  Grace's husband, from their loveless marriage, dies on the trail.  Grace manages to sell off enough supplies to fun their trip to the Whitman Mission, who allows the women to stay during the winter, until Grace can contact her uncle, who lives in Washington.<br />
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Grace is a skilled healer, being taught the skills from her mother and grandmother.  Dr. Whitman will not allow Gracie to practice her craft, until the neighboring Indian villages and their own mission is struck with the measles and many people began to die.  The Indians were told by Mr. Lewis, a fur trader, that Dr. Whitman was poisoning their families and wanted them to die.  When the chief's child dies, he comes to confront Dr. Whitman and in the end, starts a fight. <br />
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Grace happens to be away from the mission when the fight breaks out.  Her two sisters, however, are there and witness the horrific acts that take place during the massacre.  Grace hears about the massacre and in her fear, tries to get back to the mission.  With the help of another trapper, who Grace is in love with, and a half breed Indian, Sam, the two girls are reunited with their sister, but not before awful things happen to the oldest sister.  They leave the fort and go to where Grace's uncle lives, but not before they are able to make contact with him.<br />
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The rest of the story tells about the struggle to heal from the Indian raid, Grace's reluctance to marry again, even though she's met the love of her life, and reconnection with family.  The story was wonderfully told, the characters either delightfully lovable or easily despised.  The descriptions were a bit lacking, I would have liked more details about the food, the wagons, the scenery, the mission, and the fort.  The descriptions of the uncle's house were adequate.<br />
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This is a series, and Book 2 about Grace's sister Hope, is coming out in July 2017.  I plan to buy it, I am very interested on how Hope deals with the rest of her life.<br />
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Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, a genre I head toward when I want a good meaty story, with enough information to make me fe...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 13 March 2017 / stress

National Napping Day!

Lately I have been thinking about stress and how to reduce it in my life.  I wrote about<a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/03/we-all-experience-everyday-stressors.html"> journaling here and how writing helps me relieve stress. </a> I also know that there are many ways, including exercise and sleep, that help reduce the stress in daily living.  I'm not a huge fan of exercise but I do love my sleep.  You have all heard of the power nap, right?  Dr. James Maas, a professor at Cornell who coined the term, has lots to say about napping.<br />
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I tried the power nap and found that I was more cranky and listless than before I napped.  That is not a good way to convince me to use a nap as a way to deal with stress.  However, what I learned was that I was doing it wrong.  Yes, there is a right way to nap, and this is how.<br />
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The ideal power nap should be 30 minutes or less.  Too long and you wake up like I did and too short doesn't get the job done.  For a nap to produce memory and creativity benefit, it should be 90 minutes long.  (That's no longer a power nap, though.  That's a full cycle nap!)  The second point is that the nap needs to be in the middle of the day.  Too late and you won't be ready to go bed at your regular time. <span style="background-color: white;">Other points: sleep in a cooler room, with comfortable clothing and dim lighting. If temperature consistently keeps you up, you should consider getting breathable sheets or even a </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://casper.com/mattresses&source=gmail&ust=1489506899931000&usg=AFQjCNEHecE7DOUl85yfakih7DZYrgfxTA" href="https://casper.com/mattresses" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">cooling mattress</a><span style="background-color: white;">. Remember to always set your alarm so you don't sleep too long.</span><br />
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I have tried power napping since learning these tips and I can say that I am feeling the benefit of stress relief.  Now, I just need to figure out a way to love exercise and I will be calm, cool and collected!<br />
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There is a great article to let you discover what kind of napper you are.  Go and see and let me know in the comments what kind of napper you are!! <a href="http://vanwinkles.com/when-it-comes-to-napping-should-we-ask-why-rather-than-how-often"> Five Different Napping Personalities</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Information for my post came from <a href="http://vanwinkles.com/the-guide-to-power-napping" rel="nofollow">The A-Zzz's Guide to Power Napping</a>.</span></div>

National Napping Day!

Lately I have been thinking about stress and how to reduce it in my life. I wrote about journaling here and how writing helps me relieve s...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 08 March 2017 / lunch , Soup

Copycat Campbell's Tomato Soup #UltimateRecipeChallenge

I love tomatoes.  They are probably my favorite fruit/vegetables.  I just learned that I have an acidic stomach and tomatoes are on the no-no list.  It breaks my heart.<br />
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This month's Ultimate Recipe Challenge hosted by Kim Six Fix, was a bit bittersweet, knowing that I couldn't try any of the recipes, but I still wanted to be a part.  You will see my <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2015/07/around-garden-monday.html">Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce</a> recipe on the links below, along with lots of other mouthwatering recipes.<br />
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Just when I was becoming really depressed about the whole thing, I discovered tomato powder. Tomato powder is dehydrated tomatoes that are pulverized into powder and then used in making wonderful things like this <a href="http://yourownhomestore.com/copycat-cambells-tomato-soup/">Copycat Campbell's Tomato Soup</a>.<br />
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You can reconstitute the tomatoes to make tomato paste and tomato sauce.  There are instructions on nearly every package of tomato powder on the market.  I found this tomato soup recipe and modified it to make it gluten, dairy and sugar free.  I hope you give it a try.<br />
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              Tomato Soup (a bit like Campbell's, but more healthy!)</div>
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<ul id="zlrecipe-ingredients-list" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; list-style: none; margin: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2.4em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-1" itemprop="ingredients" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2/3 c almond milk</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-2" itemprop="ingredients" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 1/2 cups water</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-3" itemprop="ingredients" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 cup <span style="color: black;">tomato powder</span></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-4" itemprop="ingredients" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 packets stevia (or more to taste) (for those of you who can, use brown sugar)</li>
<li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-5" itemprop="ingredients" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 teaspoons <span style="color: black;">salt</span></span></li>
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<ul class="instructions" id="zlrecipe-instructions-list" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2.4em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li class="instruction" id="zlrecipe-instruction-0" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Add water to a large pot and eat over high heat until almost boiling.  Add tomato powder and whisk thoroughly.  Turn heat down, </span> Add stevia and salt, mix well.  Add milk and heat to desired temperature.  Add more stevia to taste, if needed.  Garnish with coconut milk yogurt.</li>
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<span style="font-size: 15px;">For someone who gets to eat Campbell's tomato soup a lot, this might seem a far cry from that beloved soup, but for those of us who cannot have tomatoes, this is a godsend!  Tomato powder has a long shelf life and can be used to make sauces, Bloody Marys and other tomato based goodies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px;">Join my friends as they share all of their wonderful tomato recipes!</span><br />
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Copycat Campbell's Tomato Soup #UltimateRecipeChallenge

I love tomatoes. They are probably my favorite fruit/vegetables. I just learned that I have an acidic stomach and tomatoes are on the no-n...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 07 March 2017 / journal

How to Journal to Ease Stress

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We all experience everyday stressors from busy schedules to managing a household. We may work outside the house and can’t seem to juggle our demands or perhaps we stay at home and take care of our family. If you are having a hard time handling your day to day routine, it may be time to think about an outlet for stress relief. Journaling has long been regarded as a good way to track your mental well-being including stress. Here are a few tips to get started to use a journal to help with your stress.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create a Gratitude Journal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. A simple way to dive into journaling is to make a gratitude journal. It is not a diary or a journal where you write down everything that you do everyday. Instead, it is a place for you to focus on all the good in your life right now. Whether you buy a dedicated gratitude journal </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or use a spiral notebook to write down a few things you are grateful for everyday, you should write in it daily. Even on your absolute worst day, there is always something to be grateful for. </span></span></div>
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Some of you have expressed an interest in writing A Sentence A Day journal, like I have the past eight months.  You can see examples of those here: <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/05/a-sentence-day.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;" target="_blank">May</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/07/a-sentence-day-june.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;" target="_blank">June</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/08/a-sentence-day.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;" target="_blank">July</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">,  </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/09/a-sentence-day-august.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">August</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/10/a-sentence-dayseptember.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">September</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">,  </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/11/a-sentence-dayoctober.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">October</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/12/a-sentence-day-november.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"> November</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/01/a-sentence-day-december.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">December</a>, <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/02/a-sentence-day-january.html">January 2017</a> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.4px;">and <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/03/a-sentence-day-february.html">February 2017</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write about your day</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Another way to use a journal for stress relief is to make a daily diary. This can be done digitally or with pen and paper. Many people feel as if they bottle up their emotions, so taking those thoughts and putting them out into the world (even privately) can be a big help. Write in this journal as often as necessary. An app, like Day One, can help you as well. Day One is $4.99 but is still a lot less than a paper journal, plus you can carry it with you and write anytime. You can set calendar alerts to remind yourself to journal as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another strategy for this is to “brain dump.” This basically means to dump everything out of your brain on paper. You can do this on your phone (try your Notes app!) or on paper.  I do this every night before going to bed.  This strategy alone helps relieve my stress.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take your journal with you everywhere</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Having a rough day? Write it out! When you have a small pocket sized journal, you can take it with you wherever you go. Perhaps you are at work and need to jot down something positive to pull you out of a funk. Or, you’re waiting at an appointment and need to get your thoughts on paper. It can be therapeutic to have something with you to track your feelings. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moleskin has a variety of pocket sized journals that are PERFECT for on the go! Moleskins are my favorite journals.  You can bullet journal with them, draw or write.  They come in a multitude of sizes, as well.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you take the time to ease your mind through journaling, you can find relief from stress each and every day.  Do you journal?  Share your ideas, suggestions, and hacks with us!</span></span>

How to Journal to Ease Stress

We all experience everyday stressors from busy schedules to managing a household. We may work outside the house and can’t seem to juggle ou...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 06 March 2017 / dinner

Fried Cabbage #TasteCreations

Top of the morning to all you lads and lassies!<br />
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This is the month of all things Irish, and now I can include myself in that group!  I did the Ancestry.com DNA test and found out that I am 1/3 Irish.  I am going to embrace my heritage in full force and celebrate St. Patrick's day the best way I can, with food!<br />
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Our Taste Creation bloggers, Rosemary from <a href="https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/">An Italian in My Kitchen </a>and Lauren from <a href="http://momhomeguide.com/">Mom Home Guide</a> have cooked up some wonderful recipes for you as well.  If you like cabbage, you are in for a treat!<br />
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This cabbage dish is so easy that it is a perfect weekday meal.  If you buy the packaged shredded cabbage, the cook time is reduced by half and the prep is nearly nonexistent!<br />
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Fried Cabbage and Bacon<br />
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6 slices of your favorite bacon, chopped<br />
1 medium onion, chopped<br />
2 cloves of garlic, minced<br />
1 small head of cabbage, chopped<br />
1 T salt<br />
1/2 t pepper<br />
1 t onion powder<br />
1 t garlic powder<br />
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Cook bacon, add onion and garlic and saute vegetables until translucent.  Stir in sliced cabbage, stirring and cooking ten minutes.  Season with all the seasonings.  Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 15 more minutes, stirring occasionally. <br />
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Serve with a healthy slice of <a href="http://tikkido.com/blog/Irish-soda-bread-recipe">soda bread</a> and a sunnyside up egg.  Yum yum.<br />
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I hope you enjoy this dish!  Since St. Patrick's Day is on a Friday, you can enjoy this recipe in leisure. Let me know if you give it a try!<br />
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<a href="http://momhomeguide.com/korean-pork-tacos-asian-cabbage-slaw">Mom's Home Guide</a>  Asian Slaw<br />
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<a href="https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/italian-bean-pancetta-cabbage-soup/">An Italian in My Kitchen</a>  Italian Bean Pancetta Cabbage Soup<br />
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Enjoy these delightful dishes for St. Patrick's Day, or whenever you feel like a delicious comforting meal.  These will be sure to satisfy!!</div>
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Fried Cabbage #TasteCreations

Top of the morning to all you lads and lassies! This is the month of all things Irish, and now I can include myself in that group! I ...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 01 March 2017 / A Sentence A Day

A Sentence A Day~ February

It is hard for me to fathom that February is gone and that we are close to finishing up the first quarter of 2017.  The time isn't just flying, it is jetting faster and faster.  I barely have a handle on my days. Still, I like to spend a bit of time each day reflecting over what happened and my response to it. That's when A Sentence A Day comes in, a journal where you only write one sentence for each day!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">For past editions of the A Sentence A Day journaling, check out these links: </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/05/a-sentence-day.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;" target="_blank">May</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/07/a-sentence-day-june.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;" target="_blank">June</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/08/a-sentence-day.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;" target="_blank">July</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">,  </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/09/a-sentence-day-august.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">August</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/10/a-sentence-dayseptember.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">September</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">,  </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/11/a-sentence-dayoctober.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">October</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/12/a-sentence-day-november.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"> November</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">, </span><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/01/a-sentence-day-december.html" style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">December</a> and <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/02/a-sentence-day-january.html">January 2017</a>.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 1.  It was a wonderful time with friends, eating lunch in a new spot across the river, delighting in one another's company and companionship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 2.  Sometimes I do better when it is just me and my sacred space, filling the time with thoughts of the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 3.  Driving to Chicago and spending time with my husband on heavy things like, do we want to become expats and move to Panama.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 4.  In Chicago with my daughter, enjoying the coldly brisk day by sightseeing everything Ferris Bueller.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 5.  Leaving Chicago is bittersweet, finding out all over again that my child is fully capable of living her own life without my influence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 6.  My head is going to explode and when it does, the world will be covered with the slime from Ghostbusters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 7.  Missing work when you work from home is just weird.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 8.  My college class went well, even though I could barely talk above a whisper.  </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 9.  Spoke to a doctor about the inflammation in my body, and while it is not good, it is not unrepairable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 10.  This crazy busy day ended up with me getting what amounts for half a haircut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 11.  A day to do whatever we wanted, and it ended up being going to four different grocery stores!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 12.  A beautiful time at the St. Louis Orchid Show at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 13.  Our PEO meeting was so much fun and I enjoyed giving each member a little heart shaped nail file from the company 31.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 14.  Our Valentine's celebration was an exchange of gifts, Bob telling me he's not doing cards anymore, and a wonderful meal of steak, steamed broccoli and sweet potato steak fries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 15.  An earnest discussion about our sacred places in our book study today is making me wonder where mine are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 16.  It's my sister's birthday and I always like to figure out some fun thing to do...this year I sent cards and posted baby pictures of her on Facebook, which never gets old!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 17.  We've cut the cord and now replaced it: our TV service expired and now we have Directv, which I never thought I'd have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 18.  At my DAR meeting we had the CAR kids come and give a presentation on their year, which is an annual event, tooooo cute!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 19.  It was 70 degrees today and we got to do a golf cart ride in February!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 20.  I spent the day with my colleagues in Columbia, talking about the merits of teaching and what good teaching looks like. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 21.  I spent the morning with a school talking about their data and their rock star teaching (!) and the evening with my PEO sisters having dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 22.  I had my second appointment with my doctor and I have lost 6 pounds, not as fast as I would like but down is nothing but GOOD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 23.  Bob and I saw a delightful student production of The Heathers: A Musical at Lindenwood University.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 24.  We joined our neighbors for a night of Trivia and it was so much fun, even if I had to ignore the brownies, shrimp, roll ups and seven layer dip to eat my cauliflower hummus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 25.  I enjoyed a lunch meeting with my Delta Kappa Gamma ladies, whom I do not get to see enough of.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 26.  I loved learning how to decorate a cake like a pro today at my neighbor's house, who is a pastry chef for a wonderful bakery!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 27.  My meeting with my PEO sisters left me feeling sad about my leadership, which is an unusual feeling for me and something I must take time to analyze.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February 28.  The last day of February was spent on the road to Columbia, where I was able to talk to my mom for 40 minutes on the way to Columbia and 50 minutes on the way home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; text-align: center;">February was a good month, but I am looking forward to March, as Spring draws closer and the fun of gardening begins!  If you decide you would like to do A Sentence A Day journaling, please let me know, I would love to come and read!</span></div>

A Sentence A Day~ February

It is hard for me to fathom that February is gone and that we are close to finishing up the first quarter of 2017. The time isn't just ...

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