I’m a liar. I know I promised no more lies but this was unintentional. I promise.

I preached no smart phone; I found a way to turn my dumb phone into a smart phone; saved a good bit o’ change…and then

I bought pinky.   I gave my phone another funny name and love every bit of it.  Hunni’s phone was smashed – I hope my iPhone screen doesn’t follow suit –and a basic replacement was almost the cost of an iPhone 4.

Hunni liked my old phone and wanted a game or two on a smart phone *cough* Angry Birds *cough* so we bit the apple. 

My Peony Otterbox will hopefully keep my new phone in tact and a car charger because this thing sucks energy like no one’s business.

Then came the fun of apps. I have a few…

• Facebook & Tweetdeck
• WordPress
• Evernote
• Instagram
• Starbucks
• Yelp
• Grocery IQ & Find Me Gluten Free
• Shop Savvy
• Words with Friends

But looking for more…just the essentials or the fun. Oh and if you have any tip & tricks or want to play Words With Friends let me know.

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Last Week’s Goals

• Wake up 15 minutes earlier.  This task is harder than I thought.  Medication fog is not fun…and earlier bedtimes are insomnia proof.  4 out of 7 days were good.  The other 3 my eyes were open snuggling with the dogs as I came out of the fog. 
• One sweet a day.  I limited it to 2 a day.  No excuses…I like sweets and two smaller were better than sweets all day long. So this was a big fail.
• Resume strength.  I was so happy to see my strength wasn’t way off after being ill.  I craved it and was happy to be back at it. 
• Try two new recipes. I tried out 4 new recipes.  Goal pwned! Recipes to come. 
• Say It, Do It.  Not quite…totals are listed.

• Zumba – 2 days
• Strength NROLW – 3 days 2 days
• Other Cardio (Treadmill, Elliptical, Bike) – 150 minutes 90 minutes
• Yoga – 75 minute class

This Week’s Goals

• Mrs. Fix-it. Several home projects this week need to be accomplished.  I have the tools, materials and skills…now to find the time.  Insomnia may come in handy this week.
• Daily Face Washing.  Okay ewww I know.  But if I don’t workout I don’t always wash my face well.  Yet now that I’m wearing make-up more regularly I need to wash it off. 
  *A Post-it note is on my mirror as a reminder.*
• Practice Planking.  I love a good plank but have been a slacker.  If I’m going to make my New Year Fitness Goal, I need to be consistent.  It starts this week.
• One day of meals without media. No TV, phone, computer to distract me while eating.  It’s so easy to multitask while eating.  Focusing on the food and enjoying it helps with portion control and choices.
• Things are rearranging.  Our front offices, classrooms and some of our apartment needs to be rearranged.  In addition to fixing some things I’m getting a workout lifting some furniture and packing some things away.
• Say it, do it.

• Zumba – 3 classes
• New Rules of Lifting for Women – 2 days
• Other Cardio – 80 minutes
• Yoga – 60 minutes

I’m rarely in control but leading in my own way.

This weekend I’m starting my fitness motivation board.  I’ve collected magazine clips, photos, workouts, words and so much over two years.  The basis behind it all is this…

(source Believe to Achieve)

I’m going to be the best me and working hard at it.  Where are you going?

Simple casseroles are wonderful to throw together and enjoy for dinner.  Filled with simple pantry ingredients make them quick and easy and they can be frozen for an even quicker dinner later.  Casseroles have been on the menu for a quick family meal for generations.

With my food limitations I make some substitutions from the traditional but it doesn’t limit my love of easy casseroles.  In fact it increases my love of them.

While making cream of mushroom soup I also made cream of celery and cream of broccoli.  When making cream of soups I freeze single serving portions just for my casserole fun.  Flavor profiles are endless and easy meals are fantastic.

Enchilada Casserole Supreme

Enchiladas are filling and flavorful but require a time commitment.  This casserole keeps the flavors in half the time.

Prep time: 5 minutes                        Cook time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 package Gluten Free Noodles (I use Tinkyada Brown Rice Pasta)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, chopped fine
• 2 peppers, chopped (I used one green and one red)
• 2 – 15 ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 – 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
• 8 ounces enchilada sauce
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 1/2 cup cream of celery soup
• 1 – 8 ounce package Pepper Jack Daiya Cheese

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.  Drain and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 9×13 casserole dish with olive oil.  [I used two dishes of equivalent sizes to save one for later]
3. In large skillet heat oil on medium high heat.  Add the onion and pepper to the pan sautéing for 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and continue sautéing for an additional 5 minutes. 
4. Then add the black beans, canned tomatoes, spices and enchilada sauce.  Stir to mix and cook for 2 minutes. 
5. Add the cream of celery soup, nutritional yeast, and Daiya cheese.  Stir for 5 minutes until Daiya has melted. 
6. Combine enchilada mixture with the cooked noodles and add to casserole dish.  Bake for 30 minutes.

Note: I paid for the Polar Heart Rate monitor with my own money and am in no way compensated for this review.

When working out there are a few must haves for me.  Good shoes, comfortable clothes, great socks, music, and my pretty pink Polar Heart Rate Monitor.

It likes to hand out on my wrist…even in the cold for a New Year’s Race.

A HRM was my big reward for a year of workouts and losing 100 pounds and motivation to keep it up.  After grilling my fitness minded friends I went with the Polar F6 because it was within my price range.  (Note: Polar no longer makes this model)

I wear it for any workout; running, lifting, swimming, Zumba.  It even goes on vacation with me…and sometimes is left behind to be FedEx’ed home.

I finally learned all the functions and can’t live without them.  Calorie counts push me during a workout.  Being a numbers freak I’ll push for an extra 5 or 10 minutes to hit an even number of calories burned.

My target heart rate is perfect for treadmill intervals and getting the best workout in a short timeframe.  It was a huge help when my doctors gave me the clear to workout again but at a lower heart rate after my big health problems.  *The Gym machines even talk to my heart rate monitor.*

I have workout amnesia so the history function reminds me how my workouts have gone.  It’s great motivation to work hard after a slacker week.

One thing I did was upgrade my Polar HRM the chest strap.  The original chest strap was hard rubber material that could irritate my skin.  My new chest strap is fabric that is easier to clean and molds to the shape of my body without rubbing.  Puts my mind to easy with cleaning so I don’t have to picture what might grow on it.

I love my pretty pink Polar and know she needs an upgrade…so that’s a big reward on the horizon.  At one point I wanted a Garmin but realized I don’t do nearly enough running to warrant the price tag for a unitasker.  I’m looking to exchange my pretty pink Polar with this model; a fuchsia fitness fun Polar. 

Do you use a HRM or electronic monitor for workouts?

It seems everyone and their mother has a smart phone.  But not me; Grimace is more my style but I want some of the access smart phones offer. 

Lucky for me several applications offer mobile setups using traditional SMS.  I have Facebook, Twitter and Twitpic set up as well as the occasional blog post through WordPress.

Facebook

I can update my status from wherever, whenever. 

Click the arrow next to home to find Account Settings.  You can attach one Facebook account per cell number. 

Click mobile on the left and add your cell number.  Facebook will text you a confirmation code to verify the account and you’re set to go. 

Text your update to 32655 and poof there it is. Be sure to check your settings.  Facebook will share your mobile number unless you uncheck the box.

Twitter

The fun of twitter is staying up to day with friends in a semi-real time fashion.  On your profile page click on the Mobile Tab.

Enter your mobile number and respond to verify.  Then be sure to set your message notifications.  From here you have several options for tweets sent to you via text.

• Notifications for specific accounts you follow.  Turn on notification via drop down menu.
• Direct messages.
• Mentions & Replies.
• Retweets & Favorites.
• New followers.

Notifications, direct messages, and at replies can be turned off via text message as well. [Text on or on messages] This is key for message rates on busy nights for twitter chats – #fitblog, #fitstudio, #runchat – and possibly during conferences to save on message rates.

Other applications such as TwitPic, YFrog, and WordPress all have SMS enabled functions.  Sign up your mobile number and go.  It’s a great way to work while NOT getting a smart phone…or until you do.

On Wednesday I told a little lie…but only one. 

There were several guesses but none was correct. 

Many didn’t believe I’ve marched in the Miss America parade.  I never said I was a contestant…just one participant in a marching band.  One year we played “You’re a Grand Old Flag” 54 times on the parade route.  I still have the darn thing memorized.  We were even on the pageant once.  Such a fun experience.

The other popular guess was playing hide and seek with my dog in the snow.  She was a purebred Samoyed and loved to play.  My brother and I would hide and she would sniff us out.  We could never find her when she hid.  I might be because she was pure white or because we were 4 and 6 years old.

But the true answer…or I mean the lie is #4 – I went parasailing in Brazil with friends.  I’ve been to Brazil but it was for missions and not vacation.  The most fun I had in Brazil was swimming with piranha…and that’s no lie. 

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Last Week’s Goals

• Sick be gone.  More or less the ill is gone.  It took all week and a course of antibiotics but I’m more or less better.  At least it doesn’t feel like an elephant is sitting on my face.
• Five-a-day. I’m vegged up.  It was needed this week to balance out the sweet tooth I get when sick.
• Fitness Change Up.  The doctor said no to this task.  The sick was in my lungs making it hard to breathe.  Instead I was required laying propped up with pillows, inhaler nearby and hot tea.  Finally by Friday I could get back to some small stuff.
• Challenge myself. The New Years Revolution challenges are amazing.  I went to the highest point in town and looked into the valley, spent all morning without talking [granted I had no voice], and took a detour in town on my way to the gym and the grocery.  It made me rethink the day with my new challenges.
• Work fun.  Between coughs and wheezes I had a blast.  I introduced some of my favorite British TV show, talked about fashion fun and made paper airplanes.  I really love my job most days.

This Week’s Goals

• Wake up 15 minutes earlier.  I want to wake up earlier but a drastic time jump would be too much.  Instead I’m adjusting my wake up by 15 minutes each day this week as a baby step.
• One sweet a day.  Sickness and PMS make sweets my primary food group.  I hate the ick feeling of overdosing on sugar.  I’m ready to make sweets a treat again.
• Resume strength.  I was bustling along with my new strength routine before I was knocked on my behind by sickness.  Now my behind will be back to the weights this week.
• Try two new recipes.  I have a notebook full of recipes to test but have relaxed into my typical meals of eggs and soup.  I pre-bought ingredients so I have to use them…I hate waste. 
• Say It, Do It.  Jess has a fantastic post each week announcing her workouts.  I used to announce mine here on It All Changes for accountability each week.  This week I’m beginning again because my schedule is crazy and writing it for the internet is better just in my diary.

• Zumba – 2 days
• Strength NROLW – 3 days
• Other Cardio (Treadmill, Elliptical, Bike) – 150 minutes
• Yoga – 75 minute class

I’m not 29 forever…no way.  There are perks to being 30!

When the winter wind chills me to the bone I want something to warm me up quick.  Soup would seem to fill the bill yet I’m left hungry a bit later.  The solution is making something of with a bit more substance.  Stews “stick to your ribs” as my grandma would say.

Wandering up and down the grocery aisles leaves a lot to be desired on flavors, ingredients and prices.  Instead I headed to the produce aisle and purchased seasonal items to make a hearty stew.  This curry lentil stew was dinner and lunch for several days keeping me warm through a week of snow. 

Curry Coconut Lentil Stew

Keep warm with simple seasonal stew.  Curry powder gives lentils a kick to keep the chill away.

Prep time:

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups vegetable stock, plus up to 1 cup more at end if needed
• 1/3 cup tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons ground ginger
• 1 can light coconut milk
• 2 cups brown lentils, rinsed
• 1 cup carrots, rough chopped
• 2 large russet potatoes, chopped [skin on]
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 bunch curly kale
• 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a stock pot on medium-high heat. Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil for 5 minutes.
2. Reduce heat to medium and add tomato sauce, ginger, curry, chili powder, stirring for 3 minutes. Then add vegetable stock, coconut milk, lentils, potatoes, carrots, and salt.
3. Stir, reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 35 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, strip kale from center rib and rip into bite sized pieces. After the cook time remove lid and add greens and lime juice. Cover for an additional 10 minutes until greens have wilted. If needed add more vegetable stock for desired consistency.
5. Salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Storage

Stew can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For long term storage freeze in individual portions for up to 6 months.

This is a fun twist on two truths and a lie.  I’ll give you 15 things about me…only one is a lie.  Don’t let me fool you…I don’t want to lie too much.

Read through and choose the lie.

1. I haven’t had a drink of alcohol since I was 21. I’d had enough by then.

2. I helped write a song sold on a major record label. I’m a one time Ne-Yo.

3. I made pretzels with monks in a monastery. That’s how pretzel originated anyway.

4. I went parasailing in Brazil with friends. It’s close to my dream of skydiving, right?

5. The only bones I’ve ever broken were ribs. No fun cast for people to sign. 

6. I’ve marched in the Miss America parade 4 times. I was the contestant from Timbuktu.

7. I almost got married at age 19. Uh yeah…almost.

8. I met Danny DeVito when his son was going to Brown University. My touch with Cheers fame.

9. I was locked out of a mall when it closed and had to walk the perimeter to my car. It’s a lot longer going around the mall than through.

10. There were rumours at my high school that I died, or moved back to Germany. Because they are totally the same thing.

11. I can’t climb a rope.  I got an F on that gym assignment.

12. As a kid I played hide and seek with my dog in the snow.  Her name was Snowy; seemed fitting.

13. I was on stage crew for 6 productions throughout high school and college. I’m the behind the scenes girl.

14. I still remember the closing announcement from working at Bed, Bath, and Beyond in college.  Attention Bed, Bath, and Beyond shoppers….

15. I still wear footie PJ’s around the house.  With bunnies on the feeties.

So what do you think?  Pick the lie and leave it in the comments. 

Play along and give me 4 truths and 1 lie about you for some fun.