Well hello there.  Yes, you Cynthia…at least the Cynthia coming in July.  It’s here…the future you’ve been look and asking for.  You’ve moved to a new job and a new town and a new house and a new everything.  Uh, don’t we hate change.

But no matter about that now.

It All Changes. 

Can’t stop it, so let’s chat.  It all seems new and a bit lot scary I’m sure.  However you’ve been there before.  Nope not to the North County, not in this pastoral job, not in this house.  But you really have.  You know exactly what’s happening only you have a bit more experience. 

Oh boy I’m rambling because right now I’m the anxious one.  I don’t like change.  I don’t like the unknown.  I don’t like being out of control.  But you knew that too.

You, Cynthia, in just six short weeks from now are exactly where you belong.  You’ve prepared for changes your entire life no matter how much you dislike them.  You’ve especially prepared for these changes because you knew they were coming, just not when.  You are reveling in the joy even while swallowing the anxiety.

Some advice from my current state of panic:

• Be proud.  It’s been a long and short 4 years.  Your first appointment and first 4 years of marriage.  You’ve accomplished so much and there is much more to come but be proud now and look forward to making more.
• Put your to-do list to use.  Lists are part of your life and help with the changes.  You made lists to help with these changes long before you knew they were coming.  Keep track of your lists and keep making them to adjust and stay organized.
• Eat and enjoy.  There are so many new places to enjoy and grocery stores to explore.  Take advantage and make meals at home.  After a month or so of packing your body will welcome it.
• Make health a priority.  In stressful situations you forget basics.  Eating is one…exercise is another.  Fit it in instead of waiting until you “have time.”  You’ll thank me uh, you.
• Keep in contact.  You made great friends over the last year…don’t forget them.  Write emails, Facebook, text and send real mail.  I know you miss them.
• Find the fun.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in the to-do lists for work and organizing with your OCD.  That’s why you created a fun to-do list.  Check things off it.  Kayaking on the St. Lawrence River, new Zumba classes, Canada, introduce yourself to new people (although that scares the heck out of you).  Enjoy things because this is your new space in life.

And just one thing not to do:

• Find all the what ifs.  You could have done so many things differently.  We all can at any point in our lives.  Don’t look back at everything little thing to “fix” – even with the moving.  Start dreaming of the future.

Remember…the future is always coming and so are the changes.  Enjoy them even if you scream every once and awhile. 

~ Cynthia

This week has been crazy busy and insane and I may have lost mind space on several other words to describe crazy and insane. 

This six-word memoir from Jon Snow sums up how I enjoy living my life.  Asking lots of questions (especially with all the things going on); excited (or scared…is there really a difference); surprised always and sometimes – more often than I’d like to admit – wrong. 

I think that’s life for us all.  Being inquisitively wrong.

Last Week’s Goals

• Big To-Do List. My big to-do list is planned and little things are added when needed.  Even better things are being checked off.  
• Party planning. Checked off the list.  I’ve had two good lunches/dinners with friends and many more planned.  I am enjoying time with friends here before moving and making local friends.
• Closet purge. Done!  And now I realize how few of Hunni’s clothes fit.  He wears the same things over and over.  The rest hand been hanging out in his closet for the last year.  Now we’ll be able to rebuild his wardrobe after we move (so we don’t have to pack them).
• Letter writing campaign. Oh…I didn’t plan on all the other things week taking over my life.  But I did find my greeting card file and make a list of people to write.  I will work on them steadily instead trying to do them all at once.
• BREATHE!!! This week started with a HUGE amount of panic.  A few sleepless nights with my Astrid To-do App making sure I have everything.  And many other afternoons packing several totes filled with things.  It feels a bit more doable now.

This Week’s Goals

• Sort and box.  I have a plan for what we need to leave out and have pitched the things we do not need/want.  Now it’s time to sort and box it up with labels.  Things will be in order to save me a headache during the unpacking.
• Cook pantry meals.  I inventoried my pantry and was happily eating the food we have with minimal grocery shopping.  Then we received moving orders and now I want to pack as little food as possible (even the non-perishable things).  Lots of frittatas, simple pastas and random chili/stews are in the future.  I’m looking forward to making spring treats to share as fruits come in season. 
• No apologies.  The insanity of my work and packing to move I’ve fallen off my regular posting schedule.  I enjoy writing so it makes me feel bad when I don’t write.  But I know posting will be taking a second, third or even 30th place to all the things I have to plan with work and moving.  I’m here and miss it but I can’t apologize – at least out loud or in writing – for my lack of blogging time for a bit.
• Show off my organization.  The timeframe for this move is ridiculous and I know it.  But this is one way my OCD comes in handy.  My lists have lists.  I have all the information organized for those who follow us that should answer almost any question.  And I’m loving my label maker.  Files are named, boxes are labeled, closets are marked.  It has become a fun game.
• Read something. My poor books have been collecting dust on the night stand and shelves.  I picked 2 I can read at home and am boxing up the rest.  I want to enjoy them but the stress of trying to do so while moving would drive me nuts.  The library is there if I need it.
• Dance in the street.  Literally!  Our local Relay for Life event is a large Zumba dance party on Main Street.  I’ll be decked out in purple with the fun slashed up shirt, curls and big earrings helping to raise money for cancer research with my amazing friends.  Sounds like a great Saturday to me.

While adjusting my wardrobe and dealing with my clothes becoming too big as I lose weight it’s posed some interesting dilemmas. The biggest of which is how to make my basic jeans and T-shirts that are a bit big look fashionable. I’m still working on it but only way to do, is to try.

It’s not time to buy new clothing – yet – so I’m making due with what I have and some fun accessories and makeup. I’m practicing my Girly girl skills instead of schlumping. My girl Laura has been a huge inspiration on the self care, weight loss & looking good front. Check her out.

Today I threw on a basic teal T-shirt and bootcut jeans but it was very plain, very very plain and kind of frumpy. These were my go to pieces 6 months ago but now the just don’t fit or look right Time to dress it up.

I recently found my blue beaded necklace in an old jewelry box and love the color and delicate detail. Fills the space in my neckline with a nice color and was like getting something for free.

I’m not opposed to finding accessories anywhere. My collection includes anything from inherited pieces to things I’ve made

My bracelet is green wood I found for $1 at Hobby Lobby. I wore it with my rehearsal dinner dress and still wear it weekly. Most versatile purchase from the wedding.

My earrings are not your average hoop. But I’m not average so they are perfect Square-ish and doubled, they are fun when a traditional hoop is a bit plain. I love big earrings so these fit the bill.

Fun but practical shoes were what I needed to be me and tie it all together. I’ve stopped being the all sneaker, all the time girl and venture out – even beyond black flats like for work. My current favorites are these lavender fun ones I’ve worn with just about anything. I’m in love.

I couldn’t forget a bit of fun makeup so I played up my eyes with some subtle purple and mascara. Just enough of a surprise when I blink. Surprised me too when I looked in the mirror.

Put it all together and I look nice for a day of errands.

I’ll admit part of my errands was window shopping for fun new clothes…but I kept my walls in my purse. That doesn’t mean I didn’t buy something at Sephora

1. I’ve never lived in one place longer than 5 years. ; I like moving for some sick and twisted reason…well not sick and twisted, it just feels normal to me.
2. The first things I looked up in my new town were grocery stores and Zumba. ; The two things that make me happiest. ;
3. My late night reading had been taking up with late night list making. ; I helps me be organized and enjoy the fun before moving.
4. I’m most worried how Peanut and Leo will adjust to our new area. ; They’re my little fluff balls and are confused when we go on vacation let alone moving completely. ; I think they’ll snuggle through it.
5. My calendar has exploded with busy days and all I want to do is sleep and spend time with friends. ; It’s almost worth it to pay some to pack, clean and move it all. ; In fact that sounds like an idea.

Last Week’s Goals

• Pack light. ;I’m so happy I packed light because the women I took packed a month of clothing for a weekend. ; Even better I loved the outfits I took with me and the variety. ; I may be getting the hang of packing super-light. ;
• Plan fitness fun. I enjoyed the early week workouts and walked around this weekend. ; It prevented the stress of packing gym shoes and workout clothes and trying to fit a workout in a packed schedule. ;
• Pack a lunch. ;I was so happy to have snacks and lunch with me. ; The only thing between home and the conference was Dunkin Donuts. ; Uh nope. ; So instead I ate my snack and was happy. ;
• Savor sweets. ; My favorite health food store in town I visited this weekend. ; Fantastic raw chocolate sweets I could not resist. ; And I enjoyed every bite. ;
• Breathe. Uh decisions were made earlier than I thought so I freaked out for a bit and then had great news. ; Now I need to breathe through the transition.

This Week’s Goals

• Big To-Do List. ;How else would this girl pack to move to a new house and community…by list only. ; I
• Party planning. I have Groupons to use; dinners to eat with friends; and our own church farewell picnic to plan. Add that to the list.
• Closet purge This time for Hunni. #1 on my list is going packing all but the mix & match needed and getting rid of the “well maybe” size & style of clothes we all hold on to.

Letter writing campaign. For me a note to say you are cared for and prayed for are some of the best memories. I have to start writing now.

• BREATHE!!!I need to remind myself daily there are 6 weeks until we move not just 6 weekends.

This survey originated with Janetha at moves and meals.  Something fun to enjoy and learn a bit more about me and for me to learn about you.

A is for age: 30

B is for breakfast today: Scrambled Eggs, pineapple, sautéed potatoes, orange juice.  Yeah for conference food.

C is for currently craving: Pistachios.  They are perfectly salty and crunchy.

D is for dinner tonight: I have no idea…conference food.  If I was at home I’d be making Enchilada Casserole Supreme for some comfort food.

E is for favorite type of exercise: Zumba.  I enjoy the friends and the sweat.  It’s nice to get dressed up for a workout too. 

F is for an irrational fear: Getting off a train at the wrong stop.  I’m always afraid they’ll charge me extra.

G is for gross food: Cauliflower.  The smell grosses me out and the taste is even worse.

H is for hometown: Frankfurt, Germany.  At least that’s where I was born.  I’ve never lived anywhere more than 5 years.

I is for something important: How to cook.  Saves on my budget and allows me to eat without worrying about what is in my food.

J is for current favorite jam: Balsamic maple strawberry.  I canned it last fall and have been enjoying it on English muffins.

K is for kids: Soon…but not now.  (and nope we’re not pregnant)

L is for current location: Hotel room.  Relaxing between sessions.  I am taking a nap next.

M is for the most recent way you spent money: New make-up brushes.  My old ones are well, old.  I’m slowly investing in good ones.

N is for something you need: A deep clean maid service.  It would make life so much easier.  It would also make life more fun so we could enjoy more dates instead of cleaning…or Hunni cleaning and me avoiding the allergens.

O is for occupation: Clergy…teacher, preacher, finances, and janitor.

P is for pet peeve: Lateness.  I’d rather be half an hour early than even a minute late.  IF others are late it drives me insane.  Respect my time. 

Q is for a quote: Recently:  Great heroes need great sorrows and burdens, or half their greatness goes unnoticed. It is all part of the fairy tale. ~Peter S. Beagle

R is for random fact about you: I own two swords, a machete, and a blow gun from my travels.  

S is for favorite healthy snack: Mango.  I love most tropical fruits.

T is for favorite treat: Chocolate. Specifically Chai flavored chocolate.  Tastes pure and fantastic.

U is for something that makes you unique: I spent more of my early childhood outside of the US than inside it. 

V is for favorite vegetable: asparagus

W is for today’s workout: Hike with some of the most beautiful views.

X is for X-rays you’ve had: What have I not had.  Recently my ankle and leg were x-rayed but I’ve been exposed to more radiation than I’d like to admit.

Y is for yesterday’s highlight: I drove 4 hours to New Hampshire and the views are gorgeous.  And then dinner was delicious at my favorite restaurant I can only visit once a year.

Z is for your time zone: EST…at least for now.

I pride myself on allergen free dessert making.  I allows me to feel like I’m following Michael Pollan’s rule about eating as much junk food as I want as long as I make it and I want it to taste good.

This talent also comes in handy when wonderful friends invite you for Easter Dinner and you offer to bring dessert but forget to bake it the night before.  Ooops.  Dessert must have been good because Emily and Brian who “don’t eat many gluten free desserts” enjoyed every bite.

Pear Upside-Down Cake

Traditional upside-down cake are turned around using pears and ramekins.  The simple cake with a bit of spice and a simple sweet syrup truly makes this a treat. 

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups Gluten-Free Flour
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cup sugar [I use beet sugar]
• 1/4 cup maple syrup [Grade B gives a deeper flavor]
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening [Spectrum Naturals Organic Shortening is soy free and dairy free]
• 3 eggs + 1 egg white
• 1 cup of Tempt hemp milk, very warm
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (check for gluten free)
• 1/3  cup Earth Balance, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/8 cup maple syrup
• 1 can pear halves in juice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and mist ramekins with oil.  This recipe makes 12 ramekins.  Place ramekins on cookie sheet to catch any spills if needed.
2. Place flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, xanthan gum, salt and sugar into mixer.  Mix on low to combine ingredients thoroughly.  Don’t skip this step because it provides the lift and fluffiness needed from this cake.  Using your fingers or a pair of forks work in the shortening until its in small pieces.  Honestly using the paddle attachment on a Kitchen Aid mixer on medium low speed will work as well…and save energy for the eating later.
3. In a separate bowl whisk together the egg and egg white with warm milk and vanilla.  Add the wet ingredients mixing on medium high for 1 minute.  Tip: Warm any alternative milk in a saucepan or 30 second intervals in the microwave.  If done to fast it creates an “off” flavor in the finish dessert as if the milk had curdled. Trust me that gets expensive fast.
4. Mix together melted Earth Balance, remaining sugar, and remaining maple syrup.  Divide it evenly among the ramekins.  Slice pear halves into small pieces.  Add two to three pieces to the bottom of the ramekin.  If pears are in season, and you have time, peel and use them.  Canned pears are a great time saver.
5. Fill ramekins with batter dividing evening.  Place batter on top of pears leaving 1/4-1/2 inch for the cake to rise. 
6. Place in preheated oven for 45 minutes to bake.  Test with toothpick and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes if needed.  Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely before serving.

Okay I know that last instruction is the hardest.  Who lets cakes cool before eating?  Humans are designed to eat warm cookies, donuts muffins and even pieces of cake.  But trust me it’s worth it.  Allowing the cake to cool makes them easier to flip and the fun extra juice from the Earth balance, sugar and maple syrup are a great topping with the pears.

Luckily we had an entire Easter dinner to eat before enjoying these desserts.  Thanks Emily and Brian for being my taste testers and a fantastic meal with fun conversation.

**This recipe can be used to make one cake if desired.  Use a spring form pan and fan out the pears along the bottom (you may need a second can).  Bake the cake for 1 hour 10 minutes before testing.  Cool completely before turning.**

I enjoy running; Hula Hooping is fun; Zumba makes me move my hips and the weight room is the perfect place to show up the boys.

I love doing multiple types of workouts because it’s all about functional fitness.  My body isn’t always moving forward in a run or bending at the knees for a squat…I kind of look like spaz in my day to day life.  Okay I really look like a spaz.

I learned the hard way after back surgery that functional fitness is key.  Six months of torture physical therapy taught me moves to involve my entire body and keep it working in one piece.  I’ll have to fix the one broken part of my back in 10 to 15 year but that’s better than tomorrow if I didn’t work on it all.

Some of my favorite moves…especially ones I’ve done this past week are:

Rotating Lunge

Side Planks with Twists

Wood choppers

Step ups with twist

Russian twists

Squat to press with medicine ball

Walking Lunges

Stability Ball Walk-outs

I love pulling these moves out at the gym, or in front of the TV, for a great workout.  They have me sweating in a short amount of time and build my back along with the rest of my body.  But most of all I love these moves because they make doing my job easy…

Marching in parades with clowns…oh and lifting & moving boxes, transporting tables, playing games with kids and so much more.  Being able to move is so important.

How does your fitness play into your day to day?

I’ve been keeping FedEx and UPS busy the last two months. ; Work packages, gifts from friends, food, and spring clothes all have arrived at my door. ;

One special box arrived from Nature Box. ; I was sent the box free to try and excited to some new healthy snacks. ; I had to quickly grab the box because Hunni loves to open anything that looks like food.

Hunni lucked out because in the March Nature Box there were some snacks I could not eat with my allergies. ; The company does a good job labeling each snack clearly making it easy to tell which contained my allergens. ; Hunni was happy to take those off my hands in exchange for a review.

I tried the dried cherries and sunshine chips on work travel. ; The sunshine chips were crispy vegetable and a nice alternative to potato chips on occasion. ; I eat dried cherries all the time and these were no different. ; Sweet and tart for a snack or to put in yogurt and oatmeal. ;

Hunni tried the firecrackers, figgy bars with honey and nuts for granola and liked them. ; Yep that’s the review I got, but he ate through them quickly and asked for more.

Nature Box provides new products each month to try but for now they are not able to customize for allergens at this time. ; For $19.95 a month it can be hit or miss if I could eat the snacks. ; The April box had more items I could try and I have more allergies than the average person so this may not be a problem. ; The price seems a bit steep but when I compared them to products in the bulk bins they weren’t much more expensive and many things I can’t get locally.

Nature Box is offering one free box to one lucky It All Changes reader. ; The contents of the box will be a surprise as they are every month.

To enter:

Leave a comment with your favorite recent snack find. ; What new snack are you loving.

Last Week’s Goals

• Family photos. Our scheduled day was windy, nasty & cold. Instead we rescheduled for two weeks out. The goal was for nicer photos and the weather was stressing our photographer out. I’m happy for a change of date.
• Start packing. Big no on the packing…but I did pull out my suitcase and make a detailed list with clothing matches. That takes most of the the stress off my shoulders.
• Sleep. Yep and not always by choice. I had an anaphylaxis scare this week which necessitated extra rest to recoup. Insomnia still sucks but that’s life.
• Zumba for a cause. A crazy busy week with the amazing new studio our instructor designed opening, larger classes and raising $1200 in memory of a wonderful teen who loved to give back to the community. Couldn’t ask for any better Zumba love.
• Date night. Date night out turned into date day in. But it’s fun just to spend time making stupid inside jokes and thinking about a big date we have planned.

This Week’s Goals

• Pack light. My work trips usually involve overpacking, at least two pieces of luggage for a few days and extra snacks. But this trip I’m taking a van load of women to a conference. I guess I shouldn’t keep the storage all for me. Time to pare down the packing.
• Plan fitness fun.I like routine but trips take me out of the norm. Instead this week I need to plan for the out of the ordinary day. I’m picturing some hiking if possible.
• Pack a lunch.Well at least snacks. In an effort to save space for travel I’m buying things one I arrive but need some fun snacks for the 4 hours each way. Time to explore the bulk bins.
• Savor sweets:I don’t have a sweet tooth but chocolate and sweets have been my go to treats “because I have the calories.”. I want to enjoy them when I’m eating things like chai chocolate and orange ginger chocolate. But they have become almost automatic. Instead I remembered to buy my ginger chews and will savor the chocolate when I want it.
• Breathe.big decisions are being made in the next two weeks that have me on edge. Cryptic and I’m sorry. But I have to breathe until I know the final decisions and can share.

Lack of posting has occurred.  I am not sorry…I’ve been ill.  Allergies suck and inhalers are always nearby…as is lots of sleep.  It’s getting better and my doctor’s are fabulous…so is breathing.

Several months ago there was a wave of 11 Things blog post tags.  I was tagged by a few people but needed time to come up with 11 things I haven’t told you and to answer the questions.

So here are my 11 Things.

(Hopefully they are original.)

1. I’m ambidextrous for most things but writing.  My dad and brother are left handed so I enjoyed using their scissors and things for fun.  My teachers appreciated I could use the left handed scissors when they ran out of righty.
2. I eat at least 3 eggs a day.  They are simple protein and so easy to cook.  We keep at least 2 dozen in the house at all time.
3. I prefer winter to summer.  Winter sports and fun are so much easier to enjoy for me and there aren’t the allergies.  You can always put more clothes on but you can only take so many off.  And cuddling up under a blanket near a fire with warm tea is a perfect night. 
4. I don’t wear a watch except for my Heart Rate Monitor when working out.  I’ve always been in places that had clocks to look, my car clock or now my phone.  But I still look at my wrist for the time because I see Hunni look at his watch.
5. I hate change as in coins.  Absolutely despise it.  I keep put it in a jar at home.  If it’s in my purse I count it out and use it to pay for things to get rid of it.  Using Euros really drove me nuts because they have 2 centimos, 2 Euro and 5 Euro coins.  They are so heavy.
6. I was not a girly girl in high school, college or even when I started teaching. But now I love clothes, jewelry, makeup and doing my hair. It is a nice hobby to have and makes me feel pretty.
7. My favorite color is yellow and I buy many things in this color but I can’t wear it because it washes out my skin.  Instead I use it for clothing and home accessories.
8. My hair was naturally wavy for most of my life.  After my anaphylaxis scare it have major curls.  I love them and am so happy for that one side effect. 
9. I watch all sorts of TV but my favorite shows are about jail.  I think it’s a reminder for me to never want to be there.  Also to understand what I’m in for when I do prison ministry.
10. I don’t really like going to concerts.  There are few artist I will actually pay to see live.  Good tickets are expensive and they don’t always play my favorite songs.  The select few are amazing.
11. Some of my best friends live nowhere near me.  I love it many days because of how I move for my job.  I means I have friends within driving distance almost anywhere I move. 

I decided to answer Mindy’s Questions in a video.  I copied them when she first tagged me and answered them on first view directly into the camera.  Enjoy!

Let’s face it, workouts are hard…at least a good workout.  At least a challenge both mentally and physically.   Some days workouts can feel like torture.  But if I go into a workout with a bad attitude I’m more likely to quit or do it half heartedly.

In my boot camp class a kid saw his mom and said “you look miserable.”  Smile it will make the day go better.  I couldn’t help but giggle because we were all dying in that class was killer with suicide sprints and lots of planks & push-ups.  But smiling after completing each task helped me go onto the next…and deal with the soreness for the next few days.

Smiles aren’t always at the ready so encourage one in a few ways.

• Wear a fun outfit.  Put on your favorite workout clothes that make you feel good about the progress you are making in your fitness. 
• Rock out to your favorite playlist.  Create several awesome play lists.  It’s nice to have a change up and when your favorite song plays it brings a smile.  I have a special playlist for hard days and my favorite song is on every playlist for fun.
• Workout with friends.  Friends can always distract with a funny conversation and a good chat.  I can’t help but smile during a workout with friends as a way to kill two birds with one stone.  Workout and hangout at the same time.
• Work for a reward.  And sometimes workouts just suck!  Whether it’s the time commitment or the hard work needed some days it’s easier to have a bad attitude or not workout at all.  Having mini rewards like and iTunes song for your playlists or working towards a big reward for completing a workout challenge should make you smile with pride.  Sure there’s a reward but it’s like a sticker on a chart…and who doesn’t love stickers.

The best smile of all is the smile after a good workout when you flop onto the couch and relax.