Breaking Out Of My Blogging Rut

There have been almost no posts in this blog for nearly a year.  I have no real excuse.  I just fizzled out. There have been enough things happening in my life and in my family's lives that I could be posting several times a day.  

I just looked at my drafts folder and it's overloaded.  No actual posts, just titles for posts, and they all would make great ones, just don't know that I am in the mood to revisit them.  Some I can't anyway as they would really need extensive pictures which I had, but that camera has been lost along with all the pics on the memory card.

I vow to return to posting more often and I'll still be doing pretty much the same content as before.  Recipes, crafts, etc.  Looking forward to hearing from my followers, and I hope I haven't lost everyone through my neglect.

Since posts with pics seem to catch the most attention, here's the cookies I learned how to decorate at a class I attended with my friend.  It was so much fun.  I've since ordered the icing bags and as soon as I get them I'll post the directions on here in another post.

Working On My Fitness Goals

It seems like I'm always wanting to get in better shape but I seriously lack in the follow through department.  I joined a gym in October that we could all go to and it was open all hours so there was no reason that we couldn't go.  But, still, in the five months that I paid the monthly dues, we only went one time, and that was only me and my middle son.  Sigh.  So I cancelled it and vowed to do free workouts that I could find on Youtube.

I discovered Bikini Body Mommy and decided that I wanted to give her approach a try.  I've only done the first two days, so far, but let me say that I am loving it!  It's easy but challenging at the same time.  She has a few versions on there, and I am starting with 3.0.  You really need to start on Day 1 and then do them in order.  The workouts are not very long but are intense so you will feel it, trust me.

I am in no way being paid to endorse Bikini Body Mommy (BBM), but I have to sing her praises.  She does it right along with you and that is what helps me feel that I can do it, too.

A few people that I met on a BBM Facebook page decided to start during the same week so we made a new page to encourage each other.  Let me know if you'd be interested in starting this fitness program and I'll become one of your cheerleaders!

Because I was wanting to really commit myself to her entire program, I decided to purchase her meal plan. 

I also took a set of before pics, not in a bikini though, as I wouldn't wear one even if I did lose a lot of weight and get in shape.  I'll not post them now, but will at the end of the 90 days.  And actually, I know it will take me more than 90 days as I have a week long vacation scheduled and a wedding that I'll be in.  So it might be more like 100 days. 

Mystery Seed Swap

Last month I signed up to join a mystery seed swap.  The rules were fairly simple:  mail seeds to them and they will mail seeds back to you.  I sent a variety of seeds, both saved and retail.  I clearly labeled each variety with what it was, if it was saved or retail, and directions for proper growth, along with days until harvest, and any other information that was relevant.  I also added $4.50 for return postage.  They asked for a minimum of 10 packets to be sent of a variety of seeds, and for each packet to contain at least 15 seeds or 30 seeds for a plant like corn.  I sent in around 30 packets of about 10 different varieties.

Here is what I received in the exchange:

Pumpkin - Big Max, Cinderella, and Jarrahdale
Squash - Hubbard
Chinese Cabbage - Pak Choi White Stem
Brussels Sprouts - Long Island Improved
Beet - Golden Detroit, and Detroit Dark Red
Parsnip - Hollow Crown, and All American
Carrot - Royal Chantenay
Pepper Chile - Ancho/Poblano
Long Pod Okra
Gourd - Luffa Sponge
Beans - Cherokee Trail of Tears, Rattlesnake, Red Chili, and Frank Barnett Cut Short
Tomato - Taxi, Alaskan Fancy, Red Robin, Cherokee Chocolate, Jersey Giant, Beefsteak, Cherokee  Purple, and Amish Paste
Flowers - Delphinium, Candytuft, Zinnia Giants of California, Datura Blue, Pink Manners Obedient, Yellow Cup Tall Native, Pink Tall Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate, and two Lily Grass.

I was very excited to see the Jersey Giant tomato seeds in this package.  I just tried to order them from Baker Creek and was told they had a failed crop of them last year so they had no seeds to offer.

Can't wait to get these started in the greenhouse I hope to get built in the next month or two.  I need to look up some of these plants as not all of them came with planting instructions.  Going to have a fun gardening season this year.  Once I get my seeds in that I ordered from Baker Creek, I'll go over all I have and make a post about ones I'll be happy to trade and what I'd like to trade for.  Maybe just postage, and I'm not sure I will need anything else.

Pumpkin Spice Banana Cake

We got snowed in today and it inspired me to do some baking.  I made bread to begin with and then decided to make a cake to use up some bananas that were getting pretty ripe.  It's extremely easy, and so delicious!

PUMPKIN SPICE BANANA CAKE
(printable recipe)

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
1 box yellow cake mix
1 (4 serving size) box of pumpkin spice flavored instant pudding mix
4 eggs
1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray a bundt pan with oil and set aside.

Connect your stand mixer with the whisk attachment and in the bowl add the peeled bananas that have been broken into chunks.  Whisk for a few seconds to roughly mash.

Into the mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients and whisk on low for 2 minutes.

Pour into the prepared bundt pan and place in oven and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Let cool in pan for 10 minutes then invert onto a plate and allow to finish cooling.  Eat as is or decorate it with frosting in any way you desire.