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All good things must come to an end

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It’s nearly 10 am as I write this and I’m sitting down for my first cup of coffee for the day. I’ve been awake since 8 but it was so cold today that I decided to stay bundled up in bed with my phone and browsed TikTok and other social media platforms for a while. Next thing I know, it’s 9:30 and my tummy is growling.

The tree outside has lost most of its leaves and for the first time since moving in, I can see more of the church across the street. This great big maple tree has provided lots of shade and privacy this past summer. I’ve enjoyed sitting out on my balcony on hot summer nights while staring up at the stars. On really clear nights, around three in the morning, there are so many stars out here. The other night I saw the tail end of the little dipper and the three sisters. It was glorious. And freezing cold at the same time.

Fall is ending soon just as my friends in the US are starting theirs. The days are shorter with the sun that disappears around 7:30 pm. Pretty soon it will be dark by dinner time. That’s the worst part of early winter months. The long dark days. It always makes my fatigue that much worse.

But that wind this morning is cold. I had to shut the balcony window. And I know what that means. It’s October already fall will be over soon. This always makes me a bit sad. Maybe even depressed. This time of year is almost magical where I live. Once the leaves are gone, that month before the snow comes – it can get dreadful here.

And as the seasons change, so does my way of life.

Colder days means wearing fuzzy pants, heavy sweaters and using blankets at night time. I’ve got my bulky comforter on the bed already and a quilt. It’s almost a little too cozy. But the comforter is much too big for the bed so my legs get all tangled inside. I’ll have to shop around for a smaller one at Christmas time when they go on sale. Money is tight and my savings account is dwindling. I need to be more mindful of my spending for the winter.

My dreams have been all over the place. The night before last I had this strange continuous dream about a man I’ve never met. We met in the dream. Dated. Had a relationship. He met my family. I woke up. Went back to sleep and found the dream continued. That never happens to me. It left me with dark feelings and thoughts all day yesterday about relationships.

This morning, it was dreams about the end of the world and zombie wars. I blame spooky season. I’ve been binge watching supernatural and horror shows and movies. Things always get a little…. weird this time of year.

Home projects and recipes

September seemed to fly back like a flash of lightning. I got my kitchen and bedroom organized. My music room is mostly organized, I’m still trying to downsize and get rid of things I don’t need. My pantry is a work in progress. I ordered a pack of 12 Mason jars and maybe I got too many. I’ve had some fun emptying plastic bags and storing things like quinoa, pasta and coffee grinds in these jars. It makes me feel a little more organized, and a little more prepared. You know, just in case a zombie war happens.

The good thing about this month is that I did a TON of baking and cooking. 99% of the meals I ate were meals that I prepared or cooked myself. I did treat myself to pizza one night because it was too late to cook when I got home from a visit with dad. I’m currently snacking on a chocolate oatmeal loaf for breakfast. I’ll see dad later, and I have leftover meatloaf for dinner tonight. It was delicious. Maybe the best meatloaf I’ve ever made.

One thing I am looking forward to is Thanksgiving next weekend. That means a family dinner, and dinner with a friend. I think maybe I’ve been too cut off lately from the world.

The future of this blog

My business plan here expires in January and I’m not renewing it. I’ll go back down to the premium plan so I can still use premium features. Plus I need the storage. My media bin is packed with pictures. I wanted to start a new instagram account but my family would definitely find me.

So, I have lots of things keeping me busy right now. Lots to focus on other than the pain and joint stiffness that happens more frequently now. I’m waiting for appointments and referrals. Our healthcare system is a mess right now.

Good Reads

I’m working on a list of Good Reads for October and hope to share that this week. I’m still trying to find new books to listen to or read. It’s October which means it’s spooky season here and we do celebrate Halloween here. I usually turn to scary movies and sci-fi classics this time of year. I’ll share some of my favorites with you through the month. And maybe some spooky stories too. I had a strange experience last night that has me scratching my head today.

And on that note, my coffee is getting cold. I’m itching to get my day started. So, thanks for reading wherever in the world you may be from. I appreciate you.

I have been binge watching the original Twilight Zone and forgot how great this show is. I’m trying to get through all the episodes. There’s a lot of them. This show is the OG of all sci-fi shows. It inspired a lot of other great tv series like Supernatural, Outer Limits and Xfiles.

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We’re back in isolation … again.

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I wasn’t going to write today but after a provincial announcement yesterday, I’m livid and heartbroken. We’re entering into another “lockdown” so to speak. But not really. The rules are murky at best. People are confused. There’s a lot of panic going around today about getting vaccine passports and such. All I want to say is… I’m just tired of it all. I want life to go back to “normal” whatever that might look like.

I’m resigned to the fact that I may not be able to see my dad over the next while. The rules again aren’t clear here. But for me as a single person, I’m only allowed to visit with “two close contacts” for indoor visits. The weather has turned bitterly cold already and sitting outside with that wind is not ideal.

So today, I got up early – finally pain free with energy – I’m showered, dressed and will be heading out soon to get my xray and second shot. I can’t unfortunately do my bloodwork tomorrow but I can get that done next week. It’s hard to do much when you’re in a flareup and I’ve been in a hypermobility flareup for nearly two weeks.

I ordered a new slow cooker and it’s pretty!

Today however, is a good day. I feel good. I got some sleep last night. I had a shower. And I have a slow cooker on the way from Amazon. It’s teal and really pretty. My last one cracked right in half two years ago and so I’ve been without one. I’ve missed it. The Zest Pot just does not cook meat the same way a slow cooker does.

And no, I didn’t order the slow cooker based on the color alone. I did a lot of research and found a decent budget model in my budget range $60 CDN – the teal color that matches my kitchen is an added bonus.

The Zest Pot is terrific for rice and pasta dishes. Sometimes even soup. But a perfectly slow cooked beef stew? There’s nothing quite like it. It was on sale for $80 and was the lighter version of the instant pot. I’ve said it before – I’m not a fan of pressure cooking. It’s not the same as slow cooking.

Fitness challenge – I see progress!

Tomorrow I’ll stock up on healthy food again with my biweekly grocery order. I used up most of the fresh vegetables in my fridge. I made the perfect roasted chicken the other night and ate the leftovers last night. It was even better reheated in the microwave. I paired it with the most perfect side of roasted vegetables – mushrooms, mini potatoes and broccoli. With a tad of olive oil, and seasoning. Cooked at 400F for about 40 minutes is the key here.

I even got out the apple oatmeal loaf that was terrible. I reheated it last night, added some butter and a few chocolate chips and it was delicious. I think I just need to tweak the recipe a little bit next time. Or maybe the apple was too bitter. I don’t know. But yesterday was a good eating day.

I stepped on the scale this morning and I’m down a few pounds. I used the tape measure and the inflammation is finally down because I’ve dropped a couple of inches. That means that I’m almost down another dress size – and that feels amazing. I think the inflammation from the arthritis and hormones are a killer and that’s been holding me back.

And so, that’s where we are this Thursday morning. It’s chilly outside. Like 2 degrees Celsius chilly. It’s been way too cold to sit outside at night. I think I’ll have to sit outside before the sun goes down now which happens at like 7 pm. They’re calling for a brutally cold winter and I’m not okay with that. I’m just grateful for my fireplace (it’s really just a heater) that keeps me warm. I still haven’t turned on the heat and don’t plan on it until October.

Recipe project – more coming soon!

Well, that’s it in a nutshell. I have plans to work on my recipes and food page for you. I’m looking at innovative ways to make recipe cards that won’t take a lot of work. I may go back to older recipes and re-write them totally. I need to remove some instagram links. I also want to get into recording cooking videos. I finally have a tripod for my phone, and I ordered a new mic stand and filter for my youtube channels.

Let me know how you are surviving this never ending pandemic. I’m so tired of it.

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Easter dinner ideas for the single chef

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Here we are at Easter weekend. A whole year later since isolation began – and we’re heading into a third wave here in Alberta. There are still rules when it comes to family gatherings, and so once again, I will be alone for Easter. It sucks. Sometimes I wish I had a partner to share these times with. But the other part of me remembers what it likes to live with someone. And that I just can’t do again.

So, I’m on youtube looking up some fantastic recipes I can cook up for myself. My fridge is full of vegetables including kale, tomatoes, mushrooms and onions that I will wash up and cut up later today. I need a shower first – now that I’ve figured out how to actually use the shower. There’s a youtube video for everything.

Cooking an entire chicken or turkey is entirely too much work for one person. Instead, I’ll be using chicken thighs laced with breadcrumbs, boxed stuffing, a side of kale salad and possibly some roast potatoes.

If you’re like me and you are struggling to get into the Easter “mood”, then hopefully these meal suggestions will help get you out of your slump.

Roasted Chicken

For the main meal, I plan on roasting chicken thighs. The easiest way to do this is crank your stove up to 350 or 375. Slather the chicken and roasting pan with a healthy volume of olive oil or whatever you like to baste your meat with – sounds dirty doesn’t it?

Crack open two eggs into a bowl and beat with a fork. Set aside. Pour some breadcrumbs into a separate bowl. Dip the chicken meat into the egg mixture first, then the breadcrumbs and repeat until the chicken is coated with the breadcrumbs. Another method for this is the “shake and bake” bag method which I’m sure you all have seen the commercials for.

There are also tons of videos on youtube that will teach you how to do this better than I can. For a healthier option, just omit the breadcrumbs. Cooking time varies but usually 40 minutes will do for chicken thighs. Or using a thermometer the temperature should read around 150-155.

Roasted Potatoes

I’m lazy when it comes to vegetables and like roasting the potatoes and veggies all in one go. Jamie Oliver is my go to for vegetable recipes. For potatoes, I buy the mini potatoes. I hate peeling potatoes so I just give them a good scrub in the sink with water, and toss them in the oven as is.

The key to roasting potatoes is all in the sauce. My mum used to store fat from previous meals in a bowl in the fridge. She used things like pure lard and butter for roasted goodness. I’ve started doing this since it’s unhealthy to pour oils and fats down the drain. It will clog your pipes.

Top off your potatoes with salt, black pepper, parsley, and your choice of seasonings and pop into the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes or until they have been cooked to your liking. Roasted potatoes are amazing. But I can never get them quite as good as my mum could. It’s funny the things we miss during holiday weekends.

Steamed Vegetables

I think for this weekend, I’m going to use my instant pot and steam some vegetables. I have frozen corn, fresh carrots, and tomatoes that will go nicely together. You can also use green beans, yams, or even butternut squash to spice things up a bit. Roasted asparagus is also a nice treat this time of year – but VERY expensive right now.

Trimmings

I think I might just stick to the basics this weekend. I haven’t cooked in a very long time and am excited to break in my new kitchen. I’ve mostly used it for sandwiches and heating up frozen meals. This will be my first actual meal that doesn’t involve reheating or a can opener.

Normally, I would cook up some stuffing using a stuffing mix from the store, crack open a can of cranberry sauce and whip up a side salad. But since I’m trying to be healthier and lose weight, I’ll skip the stuffing this year.

Desserts

Last year, I made a delicious berry crumble for Easter weekend. I think I might do the same this weekend. Given that it is a pretty healthy desert. You can heat up the fruit and eat on its own without the topping. Or you can mix the topping with rolled oats and grains to make it healthier.

Other options might be apple crumble, cupcakes, or some kind of loaf. It’s been so long since I baked anything and I’m itching to get back into it.

What are you doing for Easter dinner this year? Are you spoiling yourself with a good meal or are you skipping it all together? Let me know in the comments.

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Goal Setting – April 2021

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Every few months, I sit down and review my previous fitness plans and challenges. I hate that I’ve let myself get to a point where I can’t even walk up a flight of stairs without wheezing. Part of that is asthma, but part of that is also the weight gain too. Partially caused by hormones, and partially caused by medications – and stress.

One of the big reasons why I chose the location I am in now – is how safe it is compared to downtown. I have plenty of places I can explore for walks and once summer is here, I can take my camera out again and explore the trails down here. That’s what I’m excited for the most. Getting back into hiking and nature trail walks.

When you spend a year in isolation – you fall into bad habits. Like sleeping in until noon because of insomnia that keeps you up at night. Or you sit on the computer all day without fitness breaks. Never mind the effects of being on your own and cut off from your support group due to restrictions.

Community rec centres are still closed here as are swimming pools. But I’m very close to a pool here and can’t wait for it to open. I really want to get back into aqua fit classes. It’s a great way to exercise and easy on the knees.

So, I thought I would start the month off with a brand new fitness plan. No excuses now. I have access to a fitness centre for FREE once I get my keys. I have a clean carpet I can use for yoga, pilates and strength exercises. And I have access to nature trails just a 10 minute walk away.

Fitness Goals: Exercise Plan

This plan is very preliminary. Things may vary from day to day depending on migraines and overall health. But I am determined to get back into working out every day.

SUNDAY: weather permitting – go for a 10-30 minute walk

MONDAY: exercise bike 15 minutes, weights for 15 minutes

TUESDAY: strength only – 30 minutes

WEDNESDAY: weather permitting – go for a 10-30 minute walk

THURSDAY: yoga or pilates

FRIDAY: weather permitting – for a longer walk up to 45 minutes

SATURDAY: day of rest — use the time to clean the condo and enjoy a drink on the balcony

Food Goals:

  • Eat more greens and salads
  • Cook at least three times each week – left overs for other nights
  • Order in food – twice a month only
  • Try one new recipe each week and blog about the experience

It’s Easter weekend here. I’ll be working on some music for YouTube and planning a meal just for me. I hope to have this posted by Saturday to help others who are single and have to cook their own meals!

Social Goals:

Social goals are a bit harder given the restrictions here. I still can’t see my dad which is disappointing. I’ve seen my sister a few times as she dropped things off for me but they weren’t really “social” visits. They were providing a “service – like installing my bed, the microwave, etc. She even dropped off a delicious Shepard’s Pie last night. I’m not normally a fan of this pie, but it was SO good. I’ll be having that for dinner tonight too.

I’d like to find a friend to go for walks with on the weekends. We’re still allowed to meet with friends outdoors. Walking is low impact. It would be great to catch up with friends I haven’t seen in over a year. I hope we can also have more family zoom nights.

I think as weight drops off, I’ll feel more up to socializing and being around people. I’m just tired of feeling tired all the time and I know my weight has something do with it.

Condo Goals:

My goals this weekend are to finish off the bedroom and organize my closet. I need to donate some more clothes as I have entirely too many sweaters and shirts I don’t wear. I downsized a lot before the move, but still have too much “stuff”. So, my main goal this spring is to really get organized and “purge” whatever I don’t need.

I also hope to make it to Ikea so I can pick up some plants and things for the living room. I’m getting used to the new condo. It’s feeling less like a hotel and more like home. My bed and I are still not getting along so I may order a mattress topper from Amazon.

And so, that’s it for my goals for this month. I think that’s a pretty good start. I stopped focusing on weight loss goals and just trying to set a good exercise routine and return to healthy eating. I’ll keep you posted on a weekly basis for updates.

Etsy Goals:

I really need to get back into designing products. I took the month of March off to focus on the move. But the store is just sitting there. I’ve made 11 sales and got a review – but I need more to make it more than a hobby shop. Right now I’m spending more money on advertising than I am bringing in from sales. So stay tuned, I’m working on some fitness planners too.

What are your goals for this spring? They don’t have to be fitness related – they can be anything you want to work on or change. Let me know in the comments!

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Another milestone! 600 followers

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I couldn’t believe how many notifications I received last night after my last two posts. I watched as my list of followers continued to grow and right now as I type this – the blog is sitting at 600 followers.

Now, compared to blogs with thousands of followers I know that doesn’t seem like much. This blog has been a work of passion since April 2019 when I started it just to vent and whine about daily life issues.

Then as my audience grew, so did I as a writer. I challenged myself to research different subjects and eventually, my article list grew enough to break my blog down into sections.

I’m proud to show off the new layout and pages where I’ve organized and renamed most blog posts.

Living Well is a series that I’ve been working on for the last year. Instead of whining about my various ailments, I decided to use this platform to share my experiences and what I have learned about chronic pain management. You can now read articles on the following subjects if you click on menu, and head on over to the Living Well section.

  • Chronic migraine and headache care
  • Hypermobility and joint pain care
  • Self-care for mental health
  • Women’s health issues such as PCOS

I write from my own experiences and I share tips of what I’ve learned from doctors, specialists, and other people who have similar medical conditions.

I’ve met so many wonderful people through this blog and I thank each and everyone of you for the ongoing support and encouragement to keep this blog going.

I’m also still working on my fitness challenge of losing weight – instead of daily updates, I’ve switched to monthly progress reports. I’ll share tips and healthy recipe ideas along the way.

And as I get back into art and music, I’ll share my creations from time to time with you. Isolation has been hard on all of us. So, I’m using this platform as a way to share tips and advice on how to stay healthy – physically and emotionally during these troubled times. Sharing my own personal experiences with you, has been a joy.

Thank you again – all of you for being here.

Created using a Canva template – visit http://www.canva.com This is not my artwork.
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500 followers!! Welcome to fall with mostly single!

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I FINALLY hit the 500 mark! It’s taken over a year – but it’s worth celebrating! I was at the 500 mark, then lost a follower? But I gained a couple of more today!

So, THANK YOU!

Now that fall is here – which is obviously my favorite time of year – I’ve revamped this blog and changed up the colour schemes. I’ve always hated ultra white backgrounds as it’s hard on the eyes at night time. So, hopefully you find the website to be softer and more “fall” like.

I’m also working on some new banner art and other graphics and things. I’m trying to make the most out of the blog .

What do you think? Does it put you in a festive mood?

Fall is my favorite time for year for many reasons. Some you know already – but for my new readers – it’s worth sharing again!

Sweater Season

The weather is cooler and we can bring out our fuzzy sweaters and my favorite pajama pants. There is nothing finer than sinking into bed and snuggling up under a warm comforter. Of course, a body would be nice at times – but you know how that goes!

Fall is beautiful

When I was in better shape, I would go for urban hikes with my camera. The River Valley is just so beautiful this time of year. The leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange and crimson red. I get lost in the natural beauty.

Yes, the days are shorter. But cloudy and cool days are perfect for sweaters, hot chocolate, and snuggling up with a blanket while watching a movie on Netflix.

God’s Canvas – mostlysingle.com

Fall Cooking

I love fall cooking – as you may have guessed with my sudden desire to get back into the kitchen. Casseroles. Soups – I made a delicious chicken noodle soup today and will share the recipe with you this weekend. I made a blueberry loaf the other night – and it’s GONE already.

I got brave and decided to try some baking. I’m not good with dough. My mother was the baker in the family and I spent hours watching her in the kitchen as a kid. I squealed when the scones I made yesterday came out nearly perfectly. My diet went out the window as I ate like five of them.

I love stews and casseroles. Butternut squash, zucchini muffins, beet stew, pasta casseroles — there’s just so many recipes out there to try.

Scones – I didn’t have a pastry brush tho

I spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen. I was sweating by the end of it. My condo is nice and toasty warm after having the oven on for most of the day. And this chicken noodle soup – while it’s not perfect – it’s hearty and delicious.

So yes! I’m excited for fall. I have a whole bag of tomatoes in the fridge – what do you think I should make with them? Bruschetta? Or a casserole? The choices are literally endless.

Even though life gets busy in the fall with kids going back to school and parents going back to work – especially right now with COVID — for me – this time of year feels less hectic and less rushed. Maybe that’s because I’m not working right now.

The cool crisp air in the mornings is refreshing and reminds of being in the mountains. I love getting up early on Saturday mornings, sipping a hot cup of coffee and starting my day with some music.

Jasper 2015 – mostlysingle.com

I hope I can continue this routine when I go back to work in a few weeks.

Can you believe it’s September already? Where has the year gone? Time doesn’t slow down even when we’re at home. This time of year, makes me appreciate the days a little more.

For the month of September, I will be working on a “positive” challenge and thinking of all the things I’m thankful. I’ll be sharing things like poems, inspiring quote and art.

Thank you all so much for being here! If you’re a new reader, welcome! For long-time readers, THANK YOU. I appreciate all your comments and engagements – even if sometimes we disagree.

What’s your favorite thing about all?

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Searching for the perfect blueberry scone recipe

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Here we are at Monday morning again. The weekend flew by!

Yesterday was a quiet day. It was so cold outside and inside my condo. This morning – it’s PLUS SIX degrees. I refuse to turn my heat on based on principle.

My diet was terrible this weekend. I felt tired and didn’t have much energy yesterday as my insomnia has been bad. But I forced myself to go to bed last night at 11:30 and managed to get up before 9:00 am today. I need to do this for the next two weeks before going back to work.

I had planned on doing some baking yesterday to heat up the place. Having the oven on always helps. I didn’t make dinner until almost 8:00 pm which killed my fasting plan. But I heated up some frozen fish sticks, yam fries (mostly healthy) and boiled some veggies in the rice cooker. Now that part was delicious.

I have to use up all the veggies in my fridge in the next few days – so I’m guessing it will be another homemade soup kind of day. Or a vegetable casserole. I have a mix for scones that I want to get done today. So, I’m on youtube looking for great recipes.

I have TWO pounds of blueberries I need to use. I froze an entire container on the weekend. So, I might make some banana blueberry bread tonight too.

I love Jamie Oliver’s cooking tips. Here’s one for his scones recipe.

Anna Olson also has some great tutorial videos on her channel. She explains things so clearly – and talk about a dream kitchen. Although it’s probably a studio! When I move in the spring, the most important thing will be a gorgeous kitchen with plenty of storage.

I also like Chef Billy Parisi – he comes up with some pretty innovative dishes if you can look past his “hipster”? language – he’s also got a dream kitchen I’d love to get my hands in.

I was also thinking that I need to get a bigger freezer. I love batch cooking and freezing meals but my tiny freezer is packed already with ice for drinks and frozen vegetables. I can’t stock up like I really want to. So, I’m shopping for an affordable compact apartment size freezer that I can use for my weekly meals.

I’m hoping that I can work from home for the winter. It would be great to have meals that I can just pop into the microwave. If I have to return to the office, we’re not allowed to use the kitchen and that will really put a damper on my healthy eating plan. There’s only so many cold foods you can eat on a daily basis.

Anyways, that’s where my mind is today. It’s going to be a busy afternoon baking and hopefully helps to warm this place up! I’ll share some recipes later and some pictures if things turn out well.

I’m not ready for it to be winter yet!

Happy Monday!