Streamlining Your Mornings

I'm more of a night owl than a morning person, so it takes a little extra work to get going in the morning. I'm sure that there are lots of people like me out there, so I thought I'd share some of the tricks that have helped me streamline my mornings. Most days I head off to work prepared and ready to go, instead of like a tornado rushing to get out the door. It makes a huge difference to how I start my day!

1. Pack Lunches the Night Before

I don't have very many brain cells working in the morning, so I find that packing my lunch the night before saves plenty of time in the kitchen. It also helps me make healthier choices and prevents me from giving in to fast food options.

If I'm taking leftovers for lunch, then I like to pack them right away after dinner. I might even pack away more than one portion at a time so that I have a few days worth of lunches done.

I also like to make big batches of foods I can take for lunches for the week and pack them in portions as well. Dill Bean Salad, Tex Mex Quinoa Salad and Soups all make great lunches.

I just bought a new lunch bag and thermos which is really great to be able to pack things up the night before in the fridge or heat up some soup in the microwave before I pour it in the thermos. I also like to fill up my favourite environmentally friendly water bottle and have it ready to go in the fridge.


2. Fit in some Stretching or Exercise

I tend to wake up very stiff and sore, especially if I went to the gym the night before. If I just try to get up and go, I'll be slow going, but if I take a few minutes to stretch I have much more energy. It doesn't have to be anything long, just 5 minutes to stretch whatever feels tight and get the blood going.

If you are one of those ambitious people who exercises in the morning (good for you!), then I find the best way to guarantee you'll get up and go is by setting out your gear the night before. It will not only be easily accessible, but its also a good reminder to get your butt going. When I have been good at working out in the morning, I find that this helps a lot to get me moving.

3. Set Out Your Clothes

I can barely get my socks on in the morning, let alone pick out something nice. Its much easier if I set everything out the night before, including shoes and jewelry. What would take me 15 minutes of pulling things out of the closet in the morning because I don't know what wear, takes less than 5 minutes to do in the evening. If I'm really on my game, I tend to set out tomorrow's clothes right when I'm changing out of today's clothes into gym clothes or pyjamas. Hanging it on a hanger on a hook behind the door, or laying everything out on a chair works best for me.

I just have to remember not to move them over to the bed in the morning or someone will decide it makes for a comfy place to nap.

4. Hop in the Shower First Thing

If I make breakfast first or check my email, then before I know it, I look up to see that I have barely any time left to shower and change. Time gets away on me and I become less efficient. It takes some effort, but if I hop in the shower right away, I save much more time in the long run. It also gives me a chance to let my hair air dry a bit before I use the dryer, which is much better for your hair.


5. Simplify Your Makeup Routine

I like to keep my make up simple and quick for work. I use black eyeliner, neutral shadow on the lids, a swipe of mascara, a little bit of bronzer/blush and some concealer if under my eyes is looking particularly dark. To make it even easier, I set out the makeup in the order I use it on the bathroom shelf while I'm brushing my teeth at night. That way I'm not digging through my makeup bag for everything in the morning.

6. Start a Landing Routine and Stick To It

Once I started putting everything in the same place every night when I got home, I stopped spending time in the morning running around for things I need to take to work. My keys go on the hook, my purse hangs behind the door and my lunch bag goes right to the kitchen to be emptied.

Garrett does the same thing with his work bag, which makes it easier if I'm helping him get ready for work in the morning. I can pack both our lunches into our lunch bags at the same time and know exactly where it goes. Then when he goes to grab it, everything is ready to go.

7. Prep Breakfast and Coffee the Night Before

I am a big fan of breakfast and always try to have some quick options on hand - cereal, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, toast, chopped fruit.

Freshly made oatmeal is so much better than precooked, and I swear it takes just as little time as it does to boil the water for the instant stuff. I keep a jar of oatmeal and a jar of brown sugar in the cupboard by the stove, so that we can make a batch quickly in the morning.

Garrett is a morning coffee drinker, so he likes to leave out the kettle and set up his french press with a mug, sugar and creamer ready to go. He even adds in the sugar and creamer to his travel mug so he can make it at the same time as his first mug.

In the Summer I like to take smoothies for the commute to work, so to make this easier I freeze chopped fruit (strawberries, peeled bananas, peaches, mangos) or even buy pre-frozen fruit when it is on sale. Add in some protein powder, maybe some spinach and a little milk or yogurt and give it a whirl in the blender or food processor. Pour it into a big cup and you're good to head out on the road with a healthy breakfast.

8. Wash Your Hair Every Other Day

I used to be a daily hair washer until I realized how much it was drying out my hair. Now I wash it every other day, give it a good blow dry and then touch it up with a flat iron on day two, or even toss it up in a chic ponytail or add a headband. Giving up the old routine really helped to save me more time in the long run and my hair looks even better for it.

9. Make Your To Do List the Night Before

On the weekend I make a master to do list of things I would like to accomplish in the upcoming week. Every night I check what hasn't been done and see if I can accomplish some of them the next day and add it to my agenda. In the morning I take a look at what I wrote for that day and keep it in mind.


10. Place Anything Extra You Need By the Door

I am often going to my second job after work, or maybe going to visit a friend or take a yoga class on my way home, and if there is anything extra I need to take besides by usual routine, I put it by the door the night before. I am much less likely to forget it if its right there as I go.

I hope that these little tips help you out if you are struggling for time in the morning. Maybe you'll even get to sleep in another 15 minutes! If you have any tricks that help you in the morning, please let me know. I'm always looking for ways to get even more out of my mornings.

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

There is something wonderful about pulling a cast iron skillet of fresh cornbread out of the oven.

But this isn't just any cornbread recipe. It uses two of my favourite Tex Mex ingredients - jalapeno peppers and cheddar cheese. It gives it a little bit of heat and some hidden pockets of melty cheddar cheese.

The cheddar on top ain't that bad either.

What you'll need:
1-1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1-1/2 cups Cornmeal
2 tbsp Sugar
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1-1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
1-1/2 cup Milk
3 Large Eggs
3/4 cup Unsalted Butter, melted but not hot
1-1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
2 Jalapenos, seeded and diced

Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a cast iron skillet with canola oil or a little butter.

In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter and milk, then stir in the eggs. This will prevent the melted butter from scrambling the eggs. Add the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring until well mixed. Stir in the jalapeno and cheddar, leaving out 2 tbsp of cheese to sprinkle on the top. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes to allow the cornmeal absorb the liquid a bit.

Pour the batter into the cast iron skillet and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cornbread is set in the middle and the sides are browned, about 25-30 minutes.

Let cool for a few minutes and then serve up warm!

With lots of butter to melt down the sides.

We decided to enjoy our cornbread with a little bit of barbecue for dinner.

Texas Chicken, Grilled Zucchini and fresh Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread. A simple, yet flavour packed dinner. Yum!


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New Bedroom Lamps

This past weekend I switched from the cozy winter flannel sheets to the cooler cotton sheets, which makes me feel like Spring really is just around the corner. While I was switching it up, I realized that I've never really shared the changes that we've made to the bedroom.

After putting in the free headboard I found, we realized that we needed some lights, so we installed these

ÅRSTID wall lamps from IKEA ($19.99 each) on either side. Despite the lightswitch by the door, there is no light in this room, so some lamps were crucial for being able to find anything at night.

I love the glow that these lights give off and I only wish I could find a way to hide the white cord (any suggestions?)

Lately I've been thinking about changing up the colours of the linens in the bedroom too. I've been using this simple duvet cover for the past 5 years and I still love it, but I noticed that I've always picked the same two colours out of it for accent colours - red and yellow. Lately I've found myself liking more mellow colours - softer greens, blues, greys and beiges.

When I took a look at my Pinterest, I found that there was a trend of these colours popping up in my pins.

Source: bhg.com via iKandi on Pinterest

Light beige, blues and dark wood tones.

Source: ana-white.com via Keri Beth on Pinterest

I love this headboard with the two frames above, which I've been looking at putting in our room too.

Source: lovelyclusters.tumblr.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Rustic wood tones with white, beige and grey linens. I also love the bedskirt on this one. I haven't put mine on since we've moved and I'm getting tired of seeing the bins under the bed, so its time to dig it back out!

Source: beddingenvy.com via JoAnn on Pinterest

I love the greens and greys in this room. It creates a lovely soothing effect.

Source: potterybarn.com via Amanda on Pinterest

The shelf above the bed was what we had planned to make before I found the headboard for free, but I still love that look with the frames resting on it. I also love the fluffiness of this bed. I wish I could find a way to make ours like that - even though Garrett thinks we have "too many pillows". That comment doesn't even register in my head...too many pillows? Not possible.

Source: suziebeezie.tumblr.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Even though this is more yellow (which I'm shying away from), I really love the bright colours of this room. But I think after awhile I'd feel like I was living in an Easter egg.

Regardless of what I pick, I know that one little guy will be happy with my decision. As long as he can sit at the end of the bed and look out the window he'll be happy.

For this little dog, that is all my bed really is...and perch for squirrel hunting and people watching.

I ♥ Fridays

I have always loved Fridays ever since I was born...on a Friday. They mean the end of the work/school week and the start of the weekend. When I was a kid, we watched TGIF every Friday night and had a fun family dinner. It just dawned on me the other day, that I still do those things.

I come home from work to be greeted at the door by an overly hyper Whiskey (he is VERY excited when we get home). I've tried to get in the habit of putting away all my work stuff right away and tidying up the house a little bit. Its nice to start off the weekend with a tidy house with no evidence of work around. Then its time to switch out of my work clothes into something more comfortable - usually yoga pants and a soft long sleeve t-shirt right now.

While I tidy things up and get comfotable, Garrett is super sweet and always makes me my favourite drink, a Bacardi rum and Diet Coke, in my favourite vintage glass I inherited from my Great Uncle. I love how it has all the old school drink recipes along the sides. Some day I should really try to make one of them.

Friday nights usually call for something fun for dinner like Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowls or homemade pizza. We usually try to use up all the meat, cheese and veggies in the fridge so that we can buy fresh ones on Saturday morning after the gym.

After dinner we curl up on the couch and watch some of our favourite shows we've missed during the week. Right now we're watching Justified (love it!), Alcatraz and The Walking Dead together. I might even convince him to watch one of the comedies I love.

Its funny to think that back in university and when I first lived in Toronto I used to go out almost every Friday night with friends. Now I'd rather enjoy my Fridays relaxing with Garrett and save Saturday nights for going to visit friends. I'm sure we save a lot of money by staying home and after a long work week I have no desire to get dressed up and head out again. It also means I can get up in time for my favourite 9am Saturday morning class at the gym without worrying about a hangover.

Whiskey loves us being home too. It means more cuddles for him :)

Greek Dinner Party

I love having friends and family over for dinner and now that we have a bigger apartment, its much easier to entertain company.

A few weeks ago I had some friends from university over for a big Greek feast! It was great to catch up with them over a nice meal and I hope we can do it again soon. I tried to serve up some of my favourite Greek recipes and here they are for you to try at your own Greek dinner party, or any night! They're simple, healthy and taste great. I also served these dishes with sliced pitas, creamy tzatziki and white wine.

For the main dish, we served up grilled chicken souvlaki cooked up on the new BBQ.

Chicken Souvlaki (Printable Version)

• 4-6 boneless Chicken Breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1/2 cup Lemon Juice
• 1/2 Olive Oil
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• 1 tbsp Dried Greek Oregano
• 1 tsp Thyme

Whisk together lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper, oregano and thyme. Put in a bag or container with chicken and marinate 2 hours to overnight.  

If you are using bamboo skewers, soak in water for at least 30 minutes before using to avoid burning on the grill. Thread chicken on skewers.  Grill on high heat, lid down for about 4 minutes per side or until juices run clear. Chicken is done when the chicken is slightly browned and firm, but not hard to the touch.  

I made a quick Greek salad using iceberg lettuce, diced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled feta cheese and this amazing Greek Dressing. It made enough for the party and leftovers to add to salads during the week.

Greek Dressing (Printable Version)

• 3/4 cup Olive Oil
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 2 tsp Dried Oregano
• 2 tsp Dried Basil
• 1 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard
• 1 cup Red Wine Vinegar

In a salad dressing jar, mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, basil, pepper, salt, onion powder, and Dijon-style mustard. Pour in the vinegar, and mix vigorously until well blended. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Makes 15 servings

  

I served up Grilled Vegetables (tossed with a bit of olive oil marinade) alongside flavourful Greek Rice.

Greek Rice (Printable Version)

• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 large Onion
• 2 cloved Garlic
• 1 large Carrot, grated
• 4 cups Vegetable Broth
• 1 tbsp Lemon Zest
• 3 tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
• 2 cups Rice

Heat oil in a pot and sautée the onion, garlic and carrot for a few minutes. Add the rice and stir to brown in 2 minutes.

Add the broth, lemon zest and parsley. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is light and fluffy, about 20 minutes.

For dessert I served up my Nana's Apple Crisp, along with some vanilla ice cream. A nice finish to a lovely meal with friends.

Next time you have company over, try a Greek night!

My Little Home Office

You might not know this about me but at any given time I have 2+ jobs. Yep, I'm kind of a workaholic. I have my weekday 9-5 job and then I do at least one other gig on evenings and weekends. This means that I need to have a home office to get work done while I'm at home.

When we first moved into the apartment I just crammed my old desk in the corner of the dining room and called it a day. Very quickly it became overcrowded with junk and there was not enough room to store everything I needed.

The solution came with some well placed shelves and utilizing all the space in my little plastic filing cabinet on the left. Some day I would love to have that plastic piece replaced with a vintage cabinet.

My resident strong man did the honours and screwed all the brackets into the wall for the shelves, while I painted the edges. We used the same shelves as we did in the bathroom, so they were already covered in a white coating which will make for easy dusting/clean up.

Once the shelves were up it was a matter of making them functional. The boxes on the top left shelf hold office supplies, craft supplies and receipts (one box for business, one box for home). The basket on the right holds any fabrics I'm using for projects. The files I'm currently working on are kept on the right in my divider and any I'm not working on go in the filing cabinet. I wanted to add some fun memories to the shelf so I included my beloved Maltese Falcon, a picture I love, a blue vase I bought from a trip to Greece a few years ago and a cool retro clock I picked up on a trip to the States.

My little desk from the old apartment is looking a little rough, but it does the trick. I sometimes touch up the paint with a black sharpie or a little paint. It just has to keep going until I can find an awesome vintage one at a garage sale/flea market. I keep supplies in the little box of drawers on the desk, as well as the top drawer of the filing cabinet. All mailing supplies are stored in the bottom drawer and files are kept in the middle two. I try to keep it all organized but it usually goes wild after a couple of weeks, so I make a point of tidying up while watching an episode of TV (Cougar Town is back! Love that show.)

It may be a tiny, slightly cramped, space, but its mine and I love it. It helps that it gets so much natural light and is a nice warm, sunny place to get work done. The great thing about having it in the dining room is that when a project gets out of hand I can take over the dining room table and have more work space!

Pancake Tuesday

Who doesn't love pancakes for dinner? For those of you celebrating Pancake Tuesday tonight, I'm sure you have your family's favourite recipe to try tonight, but I thought I'd entice you with a few of my favourite spins on the traditional pancake.

I first gave these a try back in January and since then Garrett and I have been hooked on making these German Pancakes for special breakfasts on the weekends.

The sweet spicy flavour of these Gingerbread Pancakes are perfect for a chilly winter day. They remind me of my mom's amazing gingerbread cake she used to make for Sunday night dinner. A little dusting of icing sugar is key on these ones.

If you're looking for a healthier pancake, give these Chocolate Oatmeal Protein Pancakes a try, topped with warm berries and a light syrup.

I've always loved these Mini Pancake Skewers, which would also be a great idea for an Easter Brunch.

Tonight I'll be making pancakes, maybe even testing out a new recipe with real Ontario maple syrup. Delish!

Nana's Apple Crisp

There are a couple of dishes that every time I eat them they remind me of my Nana - her date squares, oatmeal cookies and this apple crisp. One bite and its like I'm back at the table for Sunday dinner with my family. The warm, buttery flavour paired with soft apples and crisp oatmeal flakes is the perfect combination for a heart-warming winter dessert. Make this for your Sunday night dessert and I'm sure it will be greatly appreciated. It takes very little effort to make it, but they'll think you are spoiling them.

What you need
4 cups sliced, pared Apples (about 6 medium apples)
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
2 tsp Lemon Juice
2 tbsp Water

Topping:
3/4 cup Quick Rolled Oats
1/3 cup All Purpose Flour
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Butter

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a deep baking dish.

Arrange apples in the bottom and sprinkle with brown sugar, lemon juice and water. 

In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle over apples.

Bake for 35 minutes or until apples are tender.

Serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or yogurt.

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