GIVEAWAY: SodaStream Fountain Jet (Open to US only, ends 9/21)

Sponsored by: Soda Stream

Hosted by: Kelly's Thoughts On Things

I used to hate drinking water. Hated it. Even as a toddler I would tell my mom "I wan' pop!" when I was thirsty. I mean, who wants to drink plain, boring water when you can have the awesome, fizzy sensation of pop quench your thirst?

Unfortunately, I am prone to getting dehydrated. Even though pop can hydrate your body, there's nothing better than water. According to Mayo Clinic's website, "The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day." Surprisingly, the fact that I did not like drinking water did not change these facts.

A couple years ago I decided that I was only going to drink water with my meals in order to keep myself hydrated, healthy, and on track with my calories. Ever since making that decision I've noticed that I've felt less bloated, my skin is clearer, and I don't experience dehydration as much as I once did. There are many other reasons why you should drink more water, and you can check out some of the reasons here on webMD. 

Because I was once a water hater, I know how hard it can be to drink enough water. My brother wouldn't dream of only drinking water with his meals. SodaStream offers a solution for people like my brother by allowing you to create your own fizzy, flavored beverages from regular tap water. Although they're not AS healthy as plain water, there are options offered by SodaStream that are definitely a better choice than other fizzy, flavored beverages.

Read Kelly's Thoughts On Things Review of SodaStream HERE.

 

Now for this great giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a SodaStream Fountain Jet System valued at $99.95! It includes:

• Fountain Jet 

• 1 carbonating bottle, reusable for up to 3 years

• Reusable carbonator to fizz up to 60L of soda

•  Variety 6-pack of popular sample-size flavors

US Resident, 18 and up only. The Giveaway will begin August 31, 2014 and end September 21. 2014 at 11:59 pm. Please enter the Giveaway below and Good Luck!  

Entry-Form

Disclaimer- This blog is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. 

Save the Excuses - a Perspective on Fitness

People are amazing creatures. We put men on the moon, created a way to connect with others all over the world, and have been able to cure many diseases that were once thought to be incurable. People can do anything they set their minds to.

Unfortunately, this is not always a good thing. While people can do anything they set their minds to, they can also not do anything they set their minds to – i.e. make excuses. While we are great at being an innovative species, we are also great at being procrastinators.

What are your excuses for not working out? Or, if you do work out, what are some excuses you hear from others? “I’m too busy”? “I’m too old”? “I don’t have the resources”?

I used to be the fat kid. I had no confidence whatsoever. My doctors would tell me that I just needed to be more active, but I didn’t want to be. I was lazy and had no desire to sweat and force my body to change. Then one night a friend randomly decided that she wanted to be my fitness coach (although what she really wanted was someone to work out with). So I agreed and we started working out together.

This was me just a few years ago at the
Harry Potter midnight premiere in 2011.

About three days into our fitness goal, my friend abandoned me. But my body was already sore and I thought, “Well, I’ve come this far; I might as well keep going.”

I had excuses, too. The truth was that I just didn’t want to do it. All it took was a little push to get the ball rolling and now here I am about three years later, working out 5-6 days a week and 20 pounds lighter. So here’s to hoping this post will be the little push that you need to get you where you want to be!

This was taken last year at my graduation.
Photo courtesy of Sabrina Bailey from The
Red Room Photography.

“I don’t have time.”

There are 24 hours in a day. Working out for 20 minutes a day is a good starting point for beginners. I promise you that 20 minutes out of your day will not cost you much, even if you take another 20 to freshen up afterwards. If you total it up, 40 minutes comes to less than 3% of your day. Even if you're only up for 16 hours, that still comes to only 4%.

There are 24 hours, or 1440 minutes in a day. Taking 20

minutes a day will not cost you much. Image courtesy of

Sabrina Bailey from The Red Room Photography.

“I’m too old.”

How old is “too old”? Is it 30? 40? 50? My dad lifted weights about twice a week until he passed away. He was going to be 57. But maybe you’re really up there in your years. According to WebMD, only one out of four people between the ages of 65 and 74 actually work out. The same article discusses a lot of myths concerning exercise and older adults. They quote Dutta, PhD, chief of the clinical Gerentology Branch at the National Institute of Aging, "Some people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s are out there running marathons and becoming body-builders." You can check out the article here. The bottom line, though, is that no matter your age, exercise is good for you!

“I don’t have money for equipment.”

I remember working out with my mom every morning with Denise Austin when I was little. Do you know what I used for weights? Cans of vegetables. I work out every day with Jillian Michaels’ DVDs with only a mat and dumbbells (and a cute outfit). You don’t need gym equipment to get in shape – your body weight is fine! You can get a good cardio workout in without a treadmill if you just move your body. And if you can’t afford workout DVDs, there are plenty of exercises available online. Truth be told, the only thing you need to work out is your body and a sturdy pair of tennis shoes.

All you really need is a good pair of shoes!

“I just don’t want to.”

Well at least you’re not hiding behind excuses. Good for you! But you know what? I didn’t want to do it, either. In fact, I still dread my workouts. If anyone tells you that they like to exercise, they are lying. It’s only what comes after that we enjoy (the production of endorphins, the toned body, the overall sense of being healthy, etc.). No one wants to work out. We just do it because we know the ends justify the means.

Sometimes I feel like I'd rather be dead than work out.
But I do it anyways. Photo courtesy of Sabrina Bailey
from The Red Room Photography

Save the excuses!

20 minutes a day won’t kill you. And if you’re really struggling to find the time, start off by just taking a 10 minute walk every day.

Age is not a defining factor – only your mindset can tell you what you can and can’t do. But if you really are anxious about your age, talk to your doctor and ask them what they recommend.

So what if you don’t have equipment? You have a working body, don’t you? Get off the couch and move it!

Exercising isn’t easy. But you know what? It’s worth it. It makes you healthy, it produces endorphins that make you happy, and, frankly, it makes you look and feel great.

Save the excuses and get to work! I promise you won't regret it :)

Cheers!

Molly

Meatloaf - a Classic Maurer Family Recipe

This recipe comes straight out of my family’s classic cookbook. It has been a recurring dinner on our table for as long as I can remember. As soon as I take a bite, I’m thrown back to the days when all I had to worry about was skinned knees and bedtime getting in the way of playtime.

I don’t make classic family recipes very often. Obviously it’s not because I don’t like my childhood food; it’s just that I’ve found a lot of easier recipes over the years and, being a busy student, I prefer to make easy meals. Because I don’t make these classic recipes very often, it feels like a special meal when I do make them.

Even though meatloaf is probably one of the most common recipes out there, I decided I wanted to share my family’s recipe. It’s one of our classics so it seemed fitting that it be one of the first recipes I share here on A Bibliophile’s View: Fitness, Food, and Faith. (Also, we just had it the other day so it was easy to get photos!)

For some reason, I find it easier to mix all of the dry ingredients together first and then add the wet, even though it's all going in the same place. Dry ingredients include breadcrumbs (I used Italian seasoned ones), onions (I hate cutting onions so I usually use Tastefully Simple's Onion Onion dip mix, but this time I did not), salt, pepper, and some extra herbs.

After I get all of the dry ingredients mixed together, I add in the milk and eggs. The original recipe says to beat the eggs slightly before adding them, but I never do. Lastly I add the meat. 

Then it's time for my least favorite part: mixing it all together. Honestly, this step is probably why I don't make this recipe very often. I hate it. But it must be done. I usually mix/knead the mixture for about three minutes to make sure everything is thoroughly combined.

Once the mixing is done, I shape it into a loaf and place it in a foil-lined baking dish.

I bake the loaf, covered, at 350 degrees for about an hour. Then I mix together the sauce, pour it on top, and bake the loaf, uncovered, for another 20 minutes.

The second hardest part next to the mixing is the serving. I have yet to find a way to serve my meatloaf without it falling completely apart. At least it tastes delicious!

Maurer Family’s Classic Meatloaf

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef

1 cup breadcrumbs (I used Italian seasoned ones but you can use plain if you want)

1 cup chopped onion

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp your favorite herb mix (I used Tastefully Simple’s Spinach and Herb dip mix)

1 cup milk (I used skim but you can use whatever you want, although I would recommend sticking with dairy milk)

2 eggs

Sauce

(We eyeball the sauce, but these measurements are pretty accurate)

1 cup ketchup

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp BBQ sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a deep baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (I line mine with foil first, but you don’t have to).

Put bread crumbs, onion, and seasonings into a bowl and mix. Add milk and eggs. Add burger. Mix with your hands until all of the ingredients are combined (about 5 minutes of mixing and kneading). Form mixture into a loaf and then place inside baking dish.

Bake covered for one hour.

After one hour, mix ketchup, brown sugar, and BBQ sauce. Take out the meatloaf and cover with the sauce mixture. Place back in oven and bake for another 20 minutes, uncovered.

What are some of your classic family recipes that bring back old memories?

Cheers!

Molly

GIVEAWAY: Organic Tea Prize Pack, Open to US Only (Ends 9/16)

  

Kelly from Kelly's Thoughts on Things was lucky enough to review some tea from ORGANIC INDIA. Here's what she had to say about it:

"I grew up drinking tea. I remember my mom starting each morning with a nice cup of hot tea. As I got older I started doing the same thing. I feel that tea helps relax me it has soothing quality about it. Recently I was sent tea to try by ORGANIC INDIA. They have over so many teas and supplements created with the freshest ingredients. I was sent the Original Tulsi Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea and India Breakfast Tea. They are made with Tulsi holy basil which is an herb that is support to have healing properties."

Tulsi India Breakfast Tea: Deep, spicy, and revitalizing, India Breakfast Tulsi tea has the fuller, heartier flavor drinkers of black tea adore. Its smooth taste is terrific alone, and delicious when enhanced by milk, soy milk, or other delicate creamer of your choice. In this blend, They selected organic Assam (known for its body, briskness, malty flavor, and strong, bright color) and combined it with organic Ayerpadi, a special black tea leaf making headlines in the tea world for its deep, complex flavor.

Original Tulsi Tea: Three sacred varieties of Tulsi with potent restorative powers are blended to create this delicious, calming, yet energizing tea with hints of lemon and citrus from Vana Tulsi, the slightly spicy tones of Krishna Tulsi, and the calm depth of Rama Tulsi.

Tulsi Pomegranate Green Tea: Treat your taste buds to the bright burst of pomegranate, the energetic boost of green tea and the spice of Tulsi. Our special blend is made with delicious pomegranate, sweet hibiscus flowers, tart elderberries and notes of refined citrus. Combined with Tulsi and organic green tea, Tulsi pomegranate green tea creates an antioxidant-rich tonic that increases energy levels and improves digestion, while cooling and refreshing your senses. This tango of flavor and health will make you feel like you're brewing your own personal fruit orchard...and cultivating a natural medicine chest!

Green Tea is made of steamed leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea's health benefits have been studied extensively over the last few decades. It's a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of their damage. Researchers are also investigating green tea's possible effect on conditions such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. ** Pomegranates, one of the most beautifully complex fruits on earth, have been cultivated for millennia in the Middle East and India; this "superfruit" has recently become popular in the U.S. Pomegranates are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C.   

Kelly goes on to say that, "Each tea I tried includes a nice, rounded, full bodied taste. Organic India Tulsi teas come in 18 flavors, with several of them being caffeine free, perfect for drinking later in the day or evening. With Organic India Tulsi Teas, there are a variety of flavors to choose from and whether you are looking for stress relieving, relaxing, invigorating, gluten free, etc. there is sure to be one you like too! They are delicious hot or cold!"

I personally love tea. I hate the taste of coffee, so I like to start my mornings with a cup of green tea with lemon. I also drink some decaffeinated black tea at night. The health benefits are amazing; I didn't get sick once last year! I'd definitely love to try some of the ORGANIC INDIA teas!

If you're interested in trying these products, you can head on over to Organic India. You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. 

Giveaway: Enter to win a Tulsi Tea Prize Pack which includes three boxes of tea. Good Luck!    

Entry-Form

Identity Crisis

Image courtesy of Sabrina Bailey from The Red Room Photography.

I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my life. I’ve faced heartache and defeat. There are times when all I see are these mistakes and I get a sense of hopelessness. I cringe at how stupid something I said or did was, and I wonder if people remember and judge me for my foolishness.

I’ve had a lot of success in my life. I’ve accomplished many wonderful things. But all it takes is one mistake for me to doubt myself and my abilities. Recently I was accused of some nasty things. I knew the accusations were false, and my friends and family supported me and encouraged me, but I still felt worthless.

It’s easy to see ourselves as what we’ve done. Sometimes it's okay, like if you’re remembering how epic your last project turned out to be. Other times, though, how we see ourselves can be tainted by some past mistake; when that happens, we just can’t seem to get over it.

Thankfully, there is another way to define ourselves. When Jesus claims us as His, our identities depend on Him, not necessarily on us. When we find our identities in Christ, we don’t have to worry about what lies in our pasts – by accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, our past mistakes are erased.

I sometimes manage to forget that, though.

I was listening to a positive alternative radio station while I was in the car the other day. The song “Made New” by Lincoln Brewster came on and my attention was caught by the lyrics “You remind me who I am.” I was reminded that not only does my identity rely on God, but I can also rely on Him to remind me of that fact.

Isn’t it wonderful to have someone look at you and say, “I know who you are” when you start to doubt yourself? And isn’t it even better when that someone is able to help you see who you are when you start to doubt yourself? I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a great thing.

It doesn’t matter what I did in my past. It doesn’t matter what mistakes I’m going to inevitably make in the future. I belong to a God who loves me and who created me to become a certain someone. As long as I follow His instruction, I will turn out the way I’m supposed to. He knows me, and He knows I am not the mistakes I have made. I am who He created me to be.

What songs help you remember how much God loves you?

Cheers!

Molly

Obviously I do NOT own this song or any of its content. Credit belongs to Lincoln Brewster and his team! Source: YouTube.

Oatmeal Greek Yogurt Pancakes with Blueberries

I’ve decided to be a good big sister and make a special breakfast for my brother, Kyle, once a week now that he’s back in school. The problem is that I’ll have to wake up super early and I am not a morning person, so we’ll see how long I can keep it up!

I mixed up the dry ingredients the day before to save some time.

On Kyle’s first day back at school I decided to try my hand at oatmeal Greek yogurt pancakes. I had to keep looking over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t coming in the kitchen. Ever since I’ve started eating healthier he’s been very wary about what I make. The first thing he asked me when he saw me baking was “Those aren’t healthy, are they?”

Are they healthy? Noo... they're just full of healthy ingredients!

Thankfully I was able to throw Kyle off my trail and he ate them and loved them. He wouldn’t hold still for a picture, so the one I have is blurry. I’m lucky to have gotten a picture at all.

These pancakes were so moist (and fluffy!). I’m usually not able to eat pancakes without smothering them in butter and syrup, but I was able to eat these with a drizzle of honey on top. Even Mom and Kyle only used a little bit of butter and syrup with theirs.

Two pancakes was enough to fill two grown women, and three
was enough to fill a growing teenage boy!

Not only are they healthy and delicious, they’re also very filling! Kyle can eat and eat all day long, but by his third pancake he was full. Mom and I were satisfied after two pancakes. The Greek yogurt really adds a lot of protein and sustenance to the pancakes.

According to Calorie Count, each pancake had about 150 calories and 6 grams of protein. If you’re watching your sodium intake, Calorie Count says that these have about 85 mg. (Not taking into consideration any toppings.) Of course it all depends on what ingredients and brands you use, so if you’re concerned about the nutritional value, I would recommend plugging your ingredients into Calorie Count.

Oatmeal Pancakes with Greek Yogurt and Blueberries

Ingredients

1 2/3 cup of all-purpose flour

2/3 cups old-fashioned oats

1 Tbsp brown sugar (packed)

1 ¼ tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

1 cup milk (I used skim)

1 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt (I used Yoplait 100)

4 Tbsp salted butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 cup blueberries

Directions

Preheat nonstick griddle to 350 degrees. If you don’t have a griddle, a skillet should work fine (just make sure to grease it well!)

Mix the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.

In a separate bowl, combine the milk, yogurt, butter, vanilla, and eggs. Stir/whisk until all wet ingredients are incorporated.

Combine the dry and wet mixtures and stir until smooth. Once the mixtures are combined, add blueberries by folding into the batter.

Depending on what size pancakes you want, pour batter onto the preheated nonstick griddle (I used 1/3 cup). The rule of thumb I learned was to flip the pancakes once the bubbles on the surface start to pop. Another rule of thumb is to cook the pancakes 1-2 minutes per side.

Serve with whatever toppings you desire and enjoy!

Cheers!

Molly

Adapted slightly from Damn Delicious.

Motivational Monday 1 - Second Chances

Poor Monday is always getting ragged on. Although Sunday is technically the first day of the week, Monday is typically the day we all go back to our real lives. Monday is like the mom who has to go drag her kids out of bed and send them to off school (or work). We might be able to complain “five more minutes,” but that doesn't mean we can stop the inevitable.

Well, I've decided to give Monday a new reputation! Monday didn't choose to be the “real” first day of the week, so why should it have to suffer? Starting today, Mondays will be known as “Motivational Monday” here at A Bibliophile’s View: Fitness, Food, and Faith.

So are you ready for some motivation?

A couple years back I read something that really spoke to me. It said “Life always offers second chances. It’s called tomorrow.” For some reason, that struck me as powerfully inspirational. It was like, Dalai lama wise.

Fortune cookie wisdom. Photo courtesy of Sabrina Bailey
from The Red Room Photography.

Since discovering that little bit of wisdom, I've added it to my list of fortune cookie advice. Whenever I encounter someone who just feels like giving up, I remind them that tomorrow is a new day. Why wait until the New Year to start a new you when tomorrow is just a few hours away?

I recently decided to redecorate my room. Right now it’s covered in “Twilight” movie posters and horse pictures. Although I love the Twilight saga and horses, I've come to the conclusion that I should probably start collecting more mature décor items since I’m going to be 20 in just a few months. So when I found this canvas print, I knew I had to have it.

Please remember that no matter how badly you mess up, or how hopeless a situation seems, it’s not the end of the world. Trust me, if it was the end of the world, you’d know. There’s always tomorrow to get it right, and the day after that. Don’t give up on something (or yourself) just because things aren't working out right now.

Remember: Life always offers second chances. It’s called tomorrow.

Introducing... Me!

Hello, world [wide web]!

My name is Molly Maurer. I am a college sophomore on my way to earning a degree in English Composition and a certificate for Grant Writing. Instead of going to a big name school and spending big bucks, I decided to stay close to home and attend our local community college. I could preach to you on why I believe everyone should start out at a community college, but I’m trying to make a good first impression so I’ll save that soap box moment for later.

My induction ceremony for Phi Theta Kappa, the
"oldest, largest, and most prestigious honor
society for two year colleges."

When I was really young I would ask my mom to read me the same books night after night before I went to bed. My love for books has not diminished at all since then; in fact, I do believe that my adoration grows with each new book I read.

I am also a writer (if you hadn't figured that out from my college major). I've written a lot of stories, but my baby is my first and only full-length novel. I'm polishing it up and waiting for feedback from some beta readers, then I'll be seeking a(n) agent/publisher. While I'm waiting on my beta readers, I've taken on some mini side projects (including this blog, although I hope that it will eventually grow out of being a "mini" project).

Writing in a Cornfield.
Photo courtesy of Sabrina Bailey from The Red Room Photography

I was originally going to name my blog “A College Student’s View,” but then I realized that I won’t be a college student forever (at least I hope I won’t be). So instead, I opted for a title that would always reflect my status (for those of you who don’t know, bibliophiles are lovers of books).

Fitness

I used to be the fat kid and I was very self-conscious and awkward. At the end of 2011, one of my friends and I decided that we wanted to start working out and getting fit. After learning about our decision, my mom went out and got us a workout DVD (Jillian Michaels' "30 Day Shred”). I just about died five minutes into the first workout, but I managed to complete it. My friend abandoned me after about three days, but I decided that I was already suffering so I might as well stick with it. Almost three years later and 20 lbs lighter, I’m still working out with Jillian 5-6 days a week.

I don’t claim to be a fitness guru, let me just say that now. I’ve never officially studied health and fitness other than reading a few online posts on the subject. However, I have adopted a healthy lifestyle over the past couple years and I would love to help others adopt one as well.

My favorite pair of shoes, my go-to dumbbells, and my least
favorite, albeit one of the most effective, Jillian Michaels' DVD.

Food

I love to cook. I became my family’s chef at the age of 15. Although there are nights when I’d rather just get takeout, I love creating edible masterpieces. I love slow cooker recipes the most because I can pop something in early when I've still got the energy and not worry about it later on when all I want to do is veg out.

Unfortunately, my brother is the pickiest eater EVER and I can’t make anything too strange. Quinoa? I can barely get away with making it as a side dish. 

Crockpot BBQ pulled pork. Easy, delicious, and family approved!

Faith

I was born and raised in a Christian family. Those Christian values have shaped who I am today. I know not everybody shares my views. Because it is who I am, my posts will reflect this part of me. I will not promise to keep my beliefs to myself, but I do promise not to force them on anyone. I hope that even if you don't share my beliefs, you'll give me a chance and allow me to bring inspiration to your day!

The Lord is my Shepherd
Photo courtesy of Sabrina Bailey from
The Red Room Photography

This is who I am. A student. A bibliophile. A wannabe chef. A health-conscious young adult. A Christian. I am these things and I am so much more, and I hope you all enjoy getting to know me!

Cheers!

Molly