Make your own creamer... without the added ingredients.

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a bottle of flavored creamer? *Shudder*

This is from the Coffee Mate website (here).

This is for plain, unflavored creamer.

Water is the first ingredient. Followed by corn syrup solids? Then Partially Hydrogenated oil? Really? It is creamer. Ick. Not to mention all the other stuff I stumble over in pronouncing.


Let's check International Delights. Maybe they are better?

International Delights doesn't have unflavored creamer. So let's go with the French Vanilla (here).

This image is small but it is marginally better. First ingredient is water (really?), cane sugar (better than corn syrup solids... how can a syrup be solid?) and palm oil. At least none of that partially hydrogenated stuff. Still. If you have to avoid dairy I'd go with International Delights before Coffee Mate.


I want to look at one more.

 
I used to buy this all. the. time. Peppermint Mocha. Who doesn't like Peppermint Mocha?

Pretty much the same as the regular creamer. I got this snippet here.










There has to be a better way right? Something that you can have and you won't feel your arteries hardening with each sip. Thought they be glorious sips.

Well step right up and welcome to my world. I am going to tell you how to make a peppermint mocha right at home. Along with some other flavors.

Disclaimer: Yes, I have a disclaimer. I don't measure (thanks mom). I smell and taste to get it where I want it. So, use your sniffer and your taster to get the flavors where you want them.


Always use half & half. Pint, quart, Half gallon.... doesn't matter as long as you are comfortable knowing that you will be stuck with that flavor for a while if you get a large carton.

So here is the list:

Peppermint Mocha

Peppermint Extract (not Peppermint Oil. If you get peppermint oil it will just sit on top and be ruined)
Half & Half (carton of your choice)
Cocoa Powder
Hot water
Sweetener (your choice, I use cane sugar at the moment)
Cup of plain coffee

I don't have pictures yet. I haven't made this yet this year. I will and get the pics posted!

If you get a large carton of half and half then get 2 or 3 bottles of peppermint extract. Or get this, I have this in my cupboard now. It seems pricey but in my local grocery store it is about $4 per one ounce. Do the math on that.

So first step is to make your chocolate sauce. I make about 12 ounces at a time. Take about 6 ounces of water (to start) and get it real hot. It doesn't have to boil, just hot. If you don't make it hot the cocoa powder doesn't mix with the water well at all. Add chocolate powder to it until it is like a thin but not watery syrup. Then add more water/chocolate until you have the amount you want. Keep it in the fridge. I don't know how long it lasts since it always gets used very quickly. As a side note. If you add sugar to it you can use it as chocolate syrup for chocolate milk.

Now take your half and half and remove some of it. The amount you remove is directly related to how much extract you are going to use. So take out about 1/2 oz for a pint, 1 oz for a quart and 2-3 oz for a half gallon. Take out more at first in case you like it a little stronger. Add extract a half ounce or so at a time. Add enough so that you can smell it in the half and half carton. Make sure you keep coffee grounds on hand for this part. Sniff the coffee grounds before sniffing the creamer. By doing so you are cleaning your olfactory system (like those big words eh?). It is like clearing your nose palette so your don't get used to the smell.

Next brew yourself some coffee. Add the amount of sweetener you would like. Then add 2 tsp or so of the chocolate syrup then add some of the peppermint creamer.

Viola! Peppermint Mocha. Sip. Enjoy. Repeat.

Other flavors... (you don't need the chocolate part unless you want it!)

Hazelnut - Use hazelnut extract.
Amaretto(ish) - Use Almond extract. Amaretto has a bit of cherry as well but I haven't missed it)
Vanilla - Use Vanilla extract
Irish Creme - Baileys Irish Cream.. get it at your local liquor store. There is no substitute for Irish Creme.
Raspberry - Raspberry Extract
Cinnamon-Hazelnut - use a ration of 1:4 cinnamon and hazelnut. Maybe a little more cinnamon if you like it a little stronger.


I don't have any recipes for the fancier creamers like the Girl Scout cookie flavors or Cinnabon. I like to keep it quick and easy and those would require a little more experimenting.

Let me know if any other flavors you have tried and I will add them here (with your name!)

Step 3 - Vitamins

Do you remember to take your vitamins every day?

Me either and for those that do I applaud you... after giving you the stink eye.

I have always been absolutely horrible at remembering to take my vitamins. Case in point. I have about 100(ish) tablets left out of a bottle of 250 Prenatal Vitamins. My last baby was born in June of 2008. Does that tell you anything? Oh, and that was the only bottle I bought while I was pregnant.

Yes, I still had the bottle in the cupboard. It is now in the trash. How pathetic is that?

This is going to be a hard step. Only because my memory... lacks. My daughter says half my brain is on sticky notes. Not quite true but I do have a lot of sticky notes, 3x5 cards and notebooks surrounding me.

I took them today. I will take them tomorrow. I will take them tomorrow. I will take.... sorry. If I say it enough I might actually remember.

No, here is an idea. I will put them on my nightstand and take one right before bed.

Wait here....

Done. Now I should remember. Note to self.. add that to the list you make for water.

So why should we take vitamins? For better health, obviously, but also to give your body what it needs. Now I have seen it argued that if you are eating "right" that you shouldn't need vitamins. That is sound logic. However for the most part us humans don't eat nearly as well as we should. I'd rather take the vitamins and my body not need them then not take them and it does.

Here is a link to the vitamins I chose. Based of reviews they seem to be good. It can't be worse than not taking them.

If you have an ad blocker you may not see it. It is an affiliate link.  Feel free to use the link... or not.

No words are needed about the over 40 thing. None. Stuff it. Fine. Laugh it up. If you are laughing you probably aren't over 40. Yet. You'll get there and then it won't be quite as funny will it? Humph.


Check back for the next step in my process to make healthier and better choices. One small step at a time!

Pumpkin.. is here.

Be calm. Pumpkin everything is here.


I have seen it everywhere now. Pmpkin latte. Pumpkin cookies. Pumpkin muffins. It is the new cult (not quite) classic. Like Princess Bride. One of the best movies ever.

I like pumpkin as much as the next person but I think (maybe I am off my rocker) it has been turned into a marketing frenzy. Not that I blame them. I will market pumpkin scented items when I get to that point. Still, it just seems it is everywhere and not always in the best of places.

I don't know about pumpkin gum. When that runs out of flavor...

So I thought I would give my pumpkin spice recipe that I use. I mainly use it for coffee and pie. Sometimes I sprinkle some in "cinnamon" rolls so add a little something extra. There are all sorts of things you can do!


Pumpkin Spice

4tbs ground cinnamon
4tsp ground ginger
4tsp ground nutmeg
3tsp ground allspice
2tsp ground clove







Mix it up and keep in a container with a lid.














I use about 1/4 or so teaspoon in my coffee. It makes it taste similar to THE pumpkin latte. If you don't use creamer it may not taste exactly like one. You need the milk in it.

Then sit back and sip away. Or guzzle, it's up to you.

I also use pumpkin in my Alfredo sauce. It adds and extra layer to the flavor that is wonderful. Even the kids ask for the pumpkin to be put in it. Here is the recipe... roughly. I tend not to measure a lot.

Pumpkin Alfredo


1 pint heavy cream
4 oz cream cheese
1.4 cup butter
1/2 cup Parmesan
1-2 tsp garlic (I used minced, if you use powder you will want to use less)
half a can pumpkin
fettuccine noodles

In a medium sauce pan pour in the heavy cream, garlic and butter. Cube the cream cheese and put it in the pan after the butter is melted into the cream. After the cream cheese is melted and smooth add the Parmesan cheese and mix. Let it simmer on low while you cook the noodles. The longer you can let it sit on low (like number 1) the better! Stir in the pumpkin right before serving.

As you can see this isn't a low calorie recipe. You can alter it as you need to for lower calorie. I typically double the recipe and when I do I use the pint of heavy cream with a pink of half & half. That cuts some of the heaviness as well.

Chicken Parmesan is our favorite to eat with the Alfredo along with a salad. Beware, if dairy products bother you then this will tear you up. We only have this a couple times a year because of lactose intolerance. However it is oh so good.

Well I hope you enjoy! Let me know if you made any modifications so I can try it out!




Extra gum taken from http://www.foodbusinessnews.net

Step 2 - Exercise

What? Step one? How'd I do?




Um, I did OK. I wasn't stellar. Not because I didn't want to. But, because I forgot to. I drank water in the morning and before bed regularly. Nighttime was easy, I have to take my blood pressure meds so I just drank extra. Morning was easy. I just drank while I was waiting for the Kuerig to make my coffee. Who know that 30 seconds would take so long after seeming so quick? I managed to get water in before a few meals during the week.












Am I a failure? No. I am not. I am human. Press on. I am still going to keep drinking because I am making my self a check list. In the form of a sticky note that will go on the cupboard. Eventually I will make a fancier one (Hey, I want pretty lists) and laminate it and put a dry erase marker next to it.

 
But for now my glamorous sticky note. Not even in a pretty color, just the canary yellow. Humph.










 On to step two.

Insert sinister music here. Dun, dun dun.


Yes. Step two is exercise. Remember when I said in step one that water was one of the hardest?

I lied.

Exercise is, by far, the hardest step.  It's just that it's so..... BORING. At least the exercise I am used to. Walk 30 minutes a day at least. Blah, Blah, Blah. I can only walk the same road so many time before I go cross eyed.

Not to mention it is hot outside. OK, it is hot inside too. We don't have air conditioning and it has been warm the last weekish. Weekish is now a word. Webster, put it in the dictionary.

As you can tell I don't care for conventional exercise. So I started looking at different programs. Nothing really appealed. Zumba sounded fun. Pilaties, Body Pump. The crux of the matter is I don't like being hot ans sweaty. Yuck. Sticky, stinky... bleh.


So my oldest (she is 16 pushing 17) and I decided to check out the two gyms (yes there are only two decent gyms in a 20 mile radius from my house) that offer Zumba and the others. This old goat thought she was going to try her body at Zumba. I like music. I prefer country but I don't think they Zumba to George or Aldean or Lady A. So I will make do. *wink*

We went to one gym and it was the geriatric version of Zumba. I don't mind those in the senior status. They have amazing stories to tell. However I don't want to exercise with them. I need something a little more energetic. At least more energetic that the class I witnessed.

We carried on and went to the next (and last) gym. I found the pool. Now why didn't I think of that before?



This will be me. 

Not Really.

 This will actually be me.









We chose the latter gym and became shiny new members with a not so shiny temporary paper card.


No, I won't have pictures. Or video. Or any evidence of any kind. The world isn't ready to see me.

We have a goal to go 4 days a week. That shouldn't be to bad. I hope. The gym has different things to do. So we shouldn't get bored. So let's get moving!


Keep track of the steps on my steps page. As I add more and more the list will come in handy! Let me know how you are doing!


 
Swimming girl pic feelforthewater.com
Cat in water underwateraudio.com

Why am I a bottomless pit in the evenings?

Yup, right around dinner-ish time every day.

 Yup, I could make a dent in it.

I am not the only one.

This article is a little old (2005) but in this instance is still relevant. Fitness Magazine and MyFitnessPal forums had things on it to. There was a lot of "Yea, me too!" going around.

So.. why? No one knows. Some said emotions. Some say hunger. One lady even said it dated back to eating after a day of hunting when we were mere cavemen.  Sounds good. Except I am not a caveman. I think it is the endorphins we get from the pleasure of the food on our taste buds. That could be me though. What do I know.

The articles did focus on how to overcome it.

1. Save calories during the day to eat in the evenings.

Sounds good. I don't count calories (bleh, to much work. I'd rather just eat half what I normally at than count calories... bleh again and ugh) I used to and for those that do this would make sense.  It is a conundrum though because "they" say that breakfast is the most important meal. Which I realize doesn't mean a whole pot load of calories but... you get where I am going right?  I wish eating it (breakfast) helped my evening binges. *sigh*


      2.  Eat higher protein.

These are bad for you, but they do taste good! Not the right kind of protein.

Yes, that would be good too. I like protein. In the form of hamburgers. No... no. That defeats the purpose of not eating a lot in the evenings. Chicken is good too. Although I am sure fish is the kind of lean protein that "they" (Who exactly are they?) would like you to eat. Just make sure the fish is free of heavy metals. For instance tuna, it is good but you aren't supposed to eat to much of it. Why are the best tasting things always not the best for you?

                                                                  

      3.  Do something that doesn't involve the kitchen.


Again, makes sense right? Get out of the kitchen. Take a walk. Make something that doesn't involve food. Crochet. Vacuum the floor. Mop? Drink more water. Water is calorie free! You get the picture.


Running would be great as well but I fear this is me. The Basset Hound. 
Not the girl. In case you were confused.

 

Sounds like this just became another step I will be taking on the back road (makes me want to take the long way home) to improvement!

Step 1 - Water

Each week I am going to share with you one small step I am going to take to make good changes in life. Be it for health, good habits, something I just want to do... or my sanity!

The main bulk of the steps will be for health and/or good habits. Weight loss is paramount. I went to the doctor (ugh) and my blood pressure is high. I have to take medication for it now. I don't want to. Yes, I am whining about it.

The very first step, and often the hardest, is going to be water.

 High Falls - Dupont State Forest, NC

Water is the elixir of life. We can't live without it.  Those of us that are human ;) are up to 60% water. We need it.

So, I am going to make sure my body get it. Lots of it. Well, more than usual anyway.

I will be drinking water first thing when I get up. I have read and read about the benefits of drinking water when you first get up. Like it hydrates you and lubricates the joints, helps metabolism, and did you know your brain is made up of 80(ish)% water? Well, it is.  So there are lots of benefits. Even if I don't have scientific proof I say it is better to drink the water than not.

I will drink 8 ounces before each meal. This will help fill me up. Especially in the evening. I can be a bottomless pit in the evening. I am going to have to look into that.

I will also drink 8 ounces before bed. Just because I know I won't get water for about 6 to 8 hours.

This is an example of to much water. I won't drink that much.

Obviously.

That was said in the best Professor Snape voice you can do. You know the one where he was talking to Umbridge. It was in Order of the Phoenix.

This was taken in July of 2013 in Clemson, SC.


I won't say drink 64 oz of water a day or half your body weight in ounces.  I'd float away if I did that. I figure if I am adding any water to my day I am better than I was.

So here it is...

8oz upon waking (well at least when I get out of bed and GASP before coffee)
8oz before meals
8oz before bed

Of course drink anytime you feel thirsty. Here in North Carolina it can get pretty warm and I know I need to drink more on warmer and drier days.


Let me know how you do!

What is this about?

 Fresh Baked Bread.... Yum.

Oh, a little of everything.

Have you ever wanted to change things and couldn't muster up the drive to make the change?

Have you ever looked at other blogs and thought... man I wish I could do that but it is so big?

Wanted to make things but thought... oh, I can't do that.

You now what I am taking about. Those changes where they say do this, this, that and the other thing too. Then there are the ones that say 5 things to be healthier or 8 things for... you can come up with something there. You read them then you are so overwhelmed you just give up or don't try.

Yea. Me too.

I am not going to say that these things are bad. They aren't! They are usually full of good ideas but not everything that is good for the goose is good for the gander. I have a lot on my plate. I am sure many, if not all, of you do as well. I just can't do everything at once. I can't. It is just to much, it is sensory overload. I forget things. I skip things because I just can't do it all. Then I eat a loaded hamburger with fries and a shake to cope. ;)

 Homemade Deodorant from Indigo Meadows Crafting - You can make this!

So I started this blog for those of us that can't do it all at once. Everything in small steps. Weight loss? (really)Small steps. Making things yourself? Small steps. Start a business? Small steps!

This is a journey (how cliche is that?) of how I am going to change things and do things. One small step at a time. Not any particular one thing at a time. I have a slew of goals that I want to achieve but I am going to share the steps I am taking to get to them.

I hope you all can follow me, encourage me, give me more ideas and share your successes.. and failures! There will be failures. I am sure of it but like I tell my kids... if you aren't failing you aren't learning. If you get everything right all the time you aren't challenging yourself. So come with me! We can do this together!

Stay tuned for the first small step!

Homemade Lotion from Indigo Meadows Crafting - You can make this too!