Thank goodness for being able to WFH. I took the opportunity to stay home today.

I love how WFH lets me enjoy HOT meals!

Oven-reheated Applesauce (Cranberry) Oat muffins.

Plus a fried cage free egg.

The return of Fresh Market Breakfast Blend! Hubby got more the other day…hoorah!

I also get to enjoy all the hot tea I can stand. Yerba Mate first up.

Dinner was thanks to the freezer,

my herb garden, and my farmer’s market find from the weekend.

Organic Sunshine burger, plus mayo and fresh dill from my garden.

I wanted to make a yogurt or tahini sauce, but since I had neither, I worked with what I had on hand – canola mayo.

Yay greens!

More hot tea – mate vana + rooibos caramel.

Sleepy puppy!

I got to use my mini handmade bowl! Galaxy Granola + vanilla rice milk.

I broke into those new bar samples I got the other day by Lighter Living. First flavor of choice – CHOCOLATE!

Pretty good ingredient list though Mr. Pollan wouldn’t agree. Way more than 5 ingredients and a 5th grader wouldn’t know a lot of them. Ups for organic and natural ingredients – and dates are #1! That may possibly make them a good pre-workout option.

I really liked the bar. It had a nice brownie-like texture and taste. In fact, the bar reminded me a lot of the PURE bars, which I also enjoy. I liked how the yogurt coating wasn’t over-the-top thick or sweet unlike some bars. This one was a nice compliment instead of stealing the show.

If the others are as good as this one, you may be seeing these bars in my OpenSky shop soon!

Post work, I did a quick DIY zumba top shirt by de-constructing a tank top I already had.

The finished result. Psst…I followed this video tutorial – very easy!

I’m currently stalking the ZIN forum for old, used tanks that I can play with. I can’t stop cutting my tops! I. need. MORE!

One+ fabulous dance fitness workout! I’m pooped, but looking forward to more tomorrow already!

I came home and cooked dinner in my PJs. Hubby was a great helper tonight. He had everything prepped by the time I got home!

Mmm…pasta.

Dinner was fab – served with focaccia (had 2 pieces) but something was missing – a veggie side! No salad, no sauteed veggies…nothing. Doh! I seriously need to get my arse to the grocery store! We have no fruits or veggies left! Some frozen veggies but ZERO frozen fruits. Gah!

I had a mini Vega health optimizer shake with vanilla rice milk as a quick fix / band-aid. I don’t think anything can totally substitute real veggies, but this is probably the closest I could come without going to the grocery store.

Do you feel your meal is incomplete if something is missing? I used to think a meal wasn’t complete without meat but now I think it’s not complete with a veggie! You?

Nothing like dancing in the morning to put you in a happy mood for the rest of the day, right?

I have some new songs I’d like to learn how to lead, so I try to practice them every once in awhile when I have a free moment. I thought going over one this morning to wake up and get my blood flowing was a good idea. I think it was! I’m doing Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz.

We need to do some serious grocery shopping, produce-wise. With a shortage of fruits in the house, I decided to make some energy bite oatmeal using an Energy Bite I had stowed away in the freezer.

Coffee + oatmeal

Other ingredients: 1/2 milk, 1/2 water, chia seeds, sliced almonds, flaxseed meal and Galaxy Granola (*).

So cozy, so perfect in the morning!

I got to WFH today, which means better than normal eats.

I made me and hubby Goji Berry Banana smoothies (2 frozen bananas, small handful dried goji berries, milk till consistency was to liking).

His was prettier because I added some green-colored Vega Health Optimizer in vanilla chai to mine.

Mine tasted darn good, though! I thought it tasted like frosting!!!!

I cooked up some tofu for lunch. Nasoya cubed – so you don’t have to press it.

I chopped up my marinated kale from yesterday (still too much marinade!) and set it on a paper towel to soak up some of that extra marinade.

I topped it with some steamed broccoli.

And I hoped the bland broccoli would help balance the overly flavored kale. It worked out pretty good, but I still prefer my broccoli with just some melted butter.

Lunch was pretty fab, though it was on the light side.

I carbed up with a couple handfuls of pretzels…

…a piece of orange marmalade toast…

…and a piece of Barney Butter toast with chia seeds. Yea…I like toast. A lot! It helps when you’re short on time and need groceries.

I also got to finish my Honest Tea today – this stuff is yum-o!

I got a cool sample in the mail today: Lighter Living Probiotic Bars (*). Neat-o! I like how these seem to be a non-dairy source of probiotics. I mean, Id need to look at the ingredient list again (I think they have a yogurt topping), because they might contain some dairy, but it’s not like you have to eat a cup of yogurt for the beneficial probiotics. The ingredient list is almost (if not) all organic and looks to have some good stuff, including dates as the first ingredient. I love dates!

I got 3 different flavors: Chocolate, Lemon Poppyseed, Apricot Coconut. They all sound amazing – I can’t wait to dig in!

DIY De-Constructed Zumba Top

I took a cue from my Z Life Magazine and decided to go a la Tanya and cut up a tank top. Since this would be my first cutting experiment, I decided to test out something on the cheaper side. Unfortunately, the cheapest thing I could find was an $8 tank top from Target…too much money to throw away in the event my cutting experiment failed, but it turned out okay. Woohoo!

I gathered my materials – tank top, scissors, rotary cutter, chalk pencil, mat, guide.

I actually put on my tank top so I could see how far up the side to start making cuts and where in the front to do the diagonal cuts. I eyeballed some marks with my chalk and figured I’d clean them up once I could use a straight line.

First, I cut some slits down the side. I made 5 cuts, each measured 1 inch apart.

I decided to convert the tank top to a halter top. You can check out this tutorial (click) to see how I did this. I basically went straight along the top of the back.

I did the diagonal cuts – drawing the lines, then making the cuts. I spaced these by an inch also. It seemed to be good spacing for the cut lines.

I did 2 rows of the diagonal cuts – a lower section of 3 and an upper section of 3.

Guess I should have gotten some photos in class, eh? Oh well, these will have to do.

Vega Sport Pre-Workout Drink Mix

I tested out my other Vega Sport Natural Plant-Based Performance Optimizer today. This one was the same as the other, but a different flavor – Acai Berry.

I actually have a really fun experiment/case study/test planned with this stuff…details soon!

Here are some photos of the packaging for the curious:

I swear this stuff really works! I think I need to buy a jug! Can’t wait to see how my experiment with this product works out.

Oh and I definitely prefer the Acai Berry flavor to the Lemon Lime. The Acai was less grassy and more berry-licious!

Hubby and I went out after my workout to see my friend Dana. I wore too-tall heels when I should have worn flip flops or something. I have more fun when I can walk easier. Though we didn’t stay out long, it was good to get out and see our friends!

Hmm…now…what to eat for tomorrow morning? Is it sad that I’m already thinking about what yummy things I can eat for breakfast? I think not!

Reader Question: Are you more concerned with how you look or how comfortable you are when you go out (with friends, for dinner, etc)? Which is more important – fashion or comfort?

Bonus reader question: Do you have any de-constructed DIY tops like my cut-up zumba top? Send me your photos! thechiclife at gmail dot com. The cutting bug has caught me and I’m itching to snip up another top soon…I need inspiration!

Not that it's all that complicated, but my secret fabric project was…

DLSR Camera Strap Covers!

Christmas gifts and matching/coordinated for my local food friends: Kath + Matt, Michelle + Ben, Kate + Nate, and Amanda + Justin.

Mostly this project was secret because the gift recipients also read my blog and that would be a total spoiler if they read about their gift before receiving it.

As this post is being shared with RSS feeds, I am giving the last two of these DSLR Camera Strap Covers away. And there's one for some lucky winner out there, too!

I'll be doing a tutorial at some point, but basically, this project involved lots of:

Fabric selection and shopping

Cutting

Ironing

Sewing

Turning

and then more ironing.

Since all my foodie friends roll in couples and within the last year they've all gotten Canon Rebels, too, I thought semi-matching camera strap covers would be a fun gift.

There is a matching fabric side that is guy-friendly (ok, it's sort of girly, but at least it's not floral!)

The other side is a coordinating pattern – this is the girl-friendly side.

By having two types of sides, I'm hoping each person per couple can take turns carrying the camera comfortably. The girls can wear the strap pretty-side up and the guys can turn the strap to the green side if they don't want the pink/floral/girly one showing.

I made one for myself, too. Mine was the prototype. I figured I'd the first production since the first version of something usually the worst (the one where you learn mistakes and figure out how to improve).

But the best part for you dear readers…

I made an extra one!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

If you would like to win this floral and mod patterned, handmade DSLR Camera Strap cover reinforced with fusible lining and made with beautiful Heather Bailey fabric, you have a few ways to enter:

1. Leave me a comment telling me the neatest thing you've seen at a party (esp b-day but maybe wedding or otherwise).
2. Blog about my contest linking to this post and leave me a separate comment telling me you did.
3. Tweet about my contest with the URL to this post and leave me a separate comment telling me you did.
4. Subscribe to my blog feed and leave me a separate comment telling me you did.
5. Add me to your link list and leave me a separate comment telling me you did.

Each entry must be in a separate comment to count. Winner will be selected a week from today – Wednesday, Jan. 21th, 2010. The winner will randomly be selected.

PS This strap is approximately 2 1/2 " wide and 25" long. You could possibly use it for other straps, not just DSLR straps.

Good luck!

I’m working on not sleeping in even though I’m on a stay-cation.

I couldn’t wait to break into our cinnamon chip bread.

I made a quick breakfast of oven-broiled toast with real butter and a fried cage free egg with coffee – 1/2 Christmas Blend + 1/2 Peppermint Creme.

How-to Multi-task Errands

I love to multi-task it when I’m doing errands. I feel like, when done correctly, I can get so much more accomplished than when I take things step by step.

Step 1 – create a list of tasks.

Step 2 – note whether a task takes a short duration or long duration and which ones need 100% attention (vacuuming) and which ones can be left alone (laundry)

Step 3 – start a long duration, no-attention-needed task. While Task 1 works, do some of the shorter tasks. When Task 1 needs your attention again, work on it or complete it, and repeat Step 3.

Continue till you’ve completed all the errands you’d like.

Example:

Today, I had the following on my task list:

• a load or laundry – long – no-attention
• groom Bailey – short – attention required
• find a recipe for my new blender – short – attention required
• lunch – short – attention required
• mop bathroom 1 – short – attention required
• mop bathroom 2 – short – attention required
• sew a fabric gift – long – attention required
• design business cards – long – attention required

I multi-tasked some of my errrands:

• I started by putting my laundry in my washing machine.
• While my laundry ran, I turned Food TV on in the background. I sketched out some ideas for business cards. I consulted my Martha Stewart cleaning bible to see the best way to mop my bathrooms. I groomed Bailey. I noticed a meal on Quick Fix Meals with Robin Miller that used a blender to make a yummy tomato sauce. I printed the recipe (click for recipe).
• When my laundry was done with the wash cycle, I hung the hang-dry clothes, moved the rest to the dryer and got the dryer going.
• While my clothes dried, hubby surprised me by bringing a friend over to show them the house. I was utterly and completely embarrassed by the state of the house, but helped hubby give our friend a tour. After our friend left, I mopped both bathrooms. Next, I had lunch. I started pre-washing my fabrics for my craft project. I watched a blue heron fly across my yard and into my neighbor’s yard. I browsed my new cookbooks and selected recipes to try out in the next week, possibly for Eat in Month Challenge.
• Then, it was time to fold my laundry.

Next on the agenda:

• iron/fold cleaned craft fabric
• rug shopping
• basement furniture shopping
• plastic bin shopping
• sorting + organizing in the house
• maybe some other stuff…we’ll see how productive we are

Dear Bloggers…

Please…PLEASE…stop saying “Viola!” when you mean to say “Voila!” A “viola” is a musical instrument. “Voila!” is said when you want to express something like “Ta-da!” Not everyone does this, but I’ve seen it on so many blogs…you know who you are.

I love how the blogosphere brings together so many great people together and how the holidays let’s their paths cross.

I kept breakfast light today because I had a bloggie get-together planned for lunch.

I made one base batch of oats with 1/2 water, 1/2 2% milk, organic cane sugar, and flaxseeds for me and hubby.

We each got different toppings:

For hubby: a drizzle of maple syrup, almonds, chocolate chips, and fresh ground honey roasted PB

For moi: a drizzle of maple syrup, almonds, unsweetened organic coconut and a tee-niny dabble of that honey-PB.

After some blogging fun and checking emails, I got ready and headed out for my bloggie outing with Kristen of Eating RD who was in town for the holidays.

We hit up a local favorite – Toast Cafe where they serve breakfast/brunch all day! I love getting breakfast at other non-breakfast meals.

The inside of the restaurant was super cute. I loved the relaxed and casual vibe and friendliness of the staff.

They had snippets from local media where they’ve been featured next to the door.

Kristen and I had a tough time choosing between all the delicious items on their menu and their specials.

Kristen got the raspberry walnut pancakes with bacon. She graciously shared a bite with me so I can attest that they were veeery tasty!

I got the soup and 1/2 sandwich combo with a turkey reuben (sauce on the side) and chicken chowder. The perfect cold-weather combo! They were both very good.

(a photo with Kristen’s Rebel since my baby is still in the shop)

I loved that they used roasted turkey instead of just deli meat in their sandwich. I didn’t end up using any sauce – the sammie was delish without it!

The chicken chowder was nice and comforting and had big pieces of white meat chicken with lotsa yummy veggies.

After lunch, we did a quick photo shoot by the sign and front door.

Next up, we took a trip to Starbucks for some afternoon tea.

We both got the Zen hot tea (a green/peppermint/lemon mix) and split a cinnamon chip scone.

The tea was the perfect blend of flavors – we both loved it.

The scone was also quite tasty. I liked that it didn’t have too much glaze.

We even found two cozy arm chairs to lounge around in. Perfect!

(a couple more Rebel photos thanks to Kristen)

I had a fabulous time meeting and hanging out with Kristen! It was so refreshing and fun to hang out with someone who shares so many similar thoughts and hopes.

Kristen, I hope you can make it to zumba this week and please visit again soon! (and thanks for sharing some of your photos with me!)

You can check out Kristen’s recap by clicking here

After my bloggie adventures, I swung by a local fabric store. I thought I’d make it a quick stop to see if I could find some fabric for curtains. Of course me and crafty things are typically not short and I blew the afternoon browsing patterns and materials.

I’m considering making some valances for our formal living room with this beautiful Waverly fabric. It’s pretty pricey so I’d much rather make valances than full blown curtains.

I picked up some material that I may attempt to use to make a skirt…we’ll see. I have so many projects I’d like to do and not enough free time!

Time to get my dance on!