Monday, February 29, 2016

Blog Recap....And LinkUp

Seven Months And Going Strong!!


Today, I'm doing a blog recap and joining in with the linky party over at RunningInASkirt with Julie Wunder. Thank you, Julie, for the linky party and for your kindness and supportive comments over these last months!

Can you believe I've been blogging for seven months now? I can't! My picture that you see above was the first photo I put on my blog at the end of July when I got started. It's been a fantastic seven months of learning, growing and stretching as a blogger. It's been so much fun, even as I realize I still have a lot to learn. In today's post I'm going to do a quick recap of February and then finish up with some of my favorite photos/posts that I've shared over the last seven months. Here we go!

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February:
Most Viewed Post
Saturday, Casual Stylin' In Red was the most viewed post in February. I enjoyed sharing this relaxed look that was both comfortable and Valentine stylish!

My Personal Favorite Posts:

I have two favorite posts this month. I enjoyed sharing my gratitude and love on my Valentine's Post entitled, "Love Enjoyment and Gratitude."  It was also great fun to style a "new" thrifted dress and heels on my post entitled, "Debbie's Stylin' Dress and Pumps." I felt very glam!!

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I'm going to finish up with a review of some of my favorite pics/posts from the beginning! Enjoy!

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The elk in Rocky Mountain National Park were truly amazing last summer! Such a treat to see them up close and personal!

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My summertime flower gardens gave me so much pleasure! Can't wait to starting planting for this summer!!

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So much fun to share our backyard visitors!

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My foyer table posts have been the most viewed of all posts since I started. Who would have thought that little table would garner so much interest???
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It's been a great seven months! Can't wait for what's ahead. And thank you for reading and following along! Would love to hear your thoughts below!

Until Next Time, 
Debbie

Saturday, February 27, 2016

This and That...Eat Your Veggies!

Disclaimer: I am not a physician, dietician, nutritionist  or a medical person of any type. The info provided in this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please know your allergies of all types and food sensitivities and speak with your physician first if you are embarking on a new eating plan. Also, I have not been compensated in any way for products mentioned in this post. 


What I've Been Eating Lately....

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Happy Saturday dear readers! Today, I'm sharing what's been on my plate lately....my food plate I mean. I know some bloggers have a special day each week that they dedicate to sharing recipes or blogging about food. But remember, this is Debbie This And That, meaning you never know what you'll get when you visit my blog! A little bit of this and that, right? So, today, I'm going to dish about three meals I've had recently for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All are vegetarian meals. Here we go.

Breakfast



I actually enjoyed this delicious meal this morning. I've been looking for ways to incorporate veggies earlier in the day and this fit the bill! I started with a slice of toasted multi-grain bread from Fresh Market, added an over easy egg, and then topped it off with sauteed grape tomatoes and spinach. Yumm!! 


My husband and I are not strictly vegetarians as we do eat some meat and also fish. However, we limit the amount of meat and do several vegetarian meals per week. When we do eat meat, it is most usually chicken or white meat turkey. I will occasionally go in for pot roast or a hamburger, but only rarely. Mr.thisandthat doesn't eat red meat at all. OK...on to lunch.

Lunch

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I love, love, love tomato soup!!! And, I have to admit that for many years I have relied on the canned variety from...you know...the "soup" company that's been around forever. I find soup a true comfort food. I've mentioned before that we do not use salt in our recipes for health reasons. And canned soup...even the "healthier" varieties....still have quite a bit of sodium. So, I've been looking for healthier alternatives that I can make from scratch.


There are so many varieties of canned vegetables available these days with "no salt added." Those are always the ones I choose whenever possible. This brand adds some tasty spices. 


First, I heated the canned tomatoes. 


Then I added one cup of fat free, lactose free milk. Yes, cream would be good, too.....but, I'm trying to keep it healthy!


I then poured the heated mixture into a bowl and used my immersion blender to turn the mixture into a "creamy" soup. Finally, I poured the soup back into the pan and heated it some more, adding black pepper and onion powder. These are my "go to" spices I use frequently in dishes. 


I have to tell you that this soup was delicous!!  It satisfied my craving for cream of tomato soup without all the sodium. The garlic, basil and oregano that were in the canned tomatoes along with the pepper and onion powder I added, gave just the right flavor boost to this soup! I added a Weight Watchers light moisture, part skim mozzarella string cheese stick and some saltines to the lunch. We do try to eat whole grains whenever possible. But, I love me some saltines with my soup!!  And these saltines have unsalted tops which reduce the sodium amount. 
I'll definitely be making this soup again! OK..what's for dinner?

Dinner

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Do you say "dinner" or "supper?"  I tend to use both terms interchangeably. How about "evening meal?" At any rate, this was a delicious dish we shared one evening last week. It is a mixture of colorful red, orange and yellow peppers, onion and tofu on a bed of brown rice.  There was quite a bit of chopping to do as meal prep, but it went quickly.




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The peppers were so colorful mixed together in the bowl. By the way, this bowl is an "old fashioned" pyrex dish that was a wedding present 33 years ago. Still using it! Have seen similar in "antique" stores. Good grief! Am I an antique??? I'll probably break it today since I wrote about it. Hope not!





OK, the onions are chopped. On to tofu.


Do you cook with tofu?  I always buy firm or extra firm tofu for stir fry dishes.  Before I cut it, I try to get as much moisture from it as possible. It's stored in water inside the container it comes in, so there is liquid in it that can make your dish watery if it is not removed. Many people have methods they use. Mine is quick and fast. 


I basically lay the tofu block on thick paper towels and wrap the paper towels around the block like it's a present. I then push on the paper towels and let it absorb the moisture. I repeat this a couple of times. Then, I start cutting. 



For this dish, I kept the pieces bite size to go with the other vegetables. If I'm grilling the tofu on my grill pan, I just cut straight down for thin slices. Tofu by itself can be bland. So, adding spices and other ingredients are key. But, we love it and eat it frequently. OK....I'm going to speed things up here. Let the magic of blogging begin.....

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Basically, everything gets sauteed, although separately. We did peppers together, onions and then the tofu and then added it all together for a final saute. My use cast of character spices (onion powder, black pepper, italian seasoning (no sodium added) were, of course, added. 

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I've gotta tell ya...it was delish!  And that's what has been on my plate lately. How about yours?  What are fave dishes you like to create? Leave me your thoughts below. We do try to eat healthy....most of the time. I read somewhere that eating healthy 85% of the time is pretty good. I hope we do that...haven't tried to figure out the percentages. What a long post! I'm starving....let's go out to eat, OK?  You know...I'm craving chocolate cake!  Hmmmmm.....85%?  It is the weekend...

Until Next Time,
Debbie

Monday, February 22, 2016

Debbie's Stylin' Dress and Pumps!


Feeling Kind Of Pink!


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Happy Monday, everyone! I'm feeling kind of pink today, so decided to share a recent Goodwill dress purchase that I absolutely love! It must be those Spring flowers that I shared yesterday that have put me in this pink mood! You know I'm yearning for Spring!


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I fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it. I guess you call the color hot pink? The color certainly lifts my spirits....as did the $5 price tag! Years ago I had color coding done to see which colors look best on me. I was told I was a "muted summer" and purples and pinks would look especially good for my coloring. I certainly do gravitate to those colors. 


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The dress has a cute metallic belt built into the waist. The dress tag says the dress was designed by Perceptions New York. I've looked for something similar online but can't find anything. There are many dress choices by Perceptions to be found online, however. 


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And, OK, I caved and bought high heels!  I absolutely love the look of these shoes with the dress! But, I don't usually go in for the higher heels. These are by Andrew Geller and were very inexpensive at Shoe Carnival. You can see the shoes here. The color is called "Merlot." 


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I give some of my various shoes times reflecting how long I can wear them before putting on a flatter shoe. For instance, I have two hour boots (because they have higher heels), all day boots (because they are flat), all day dress shoes (low heels), etc. I think these may be 30 minute shoes...Ha! But, they are so pretty! 


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For jewelry, I added a pair of simple silver metallic earrings.


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And a bracelet I got for Christmas from White House Black Market. 


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Sometimes wearing the right colors can really lift my spirits. How about you? Do you have a favorite color that makes you feel happy? Have you ever had color coding done to see which colors compliment you most? Leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you. Hope you are feeling in the pink today, also!

Until Next Time,
Debbie

Linking with Not Dressed As Lamb and Elegantly Dressed and Stylished. Please visit these great blogs!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Styling The Foyer Table While Yearning For Spring!

Yearning For Spring


It happens about this time every year. The cold and dreary days of winter grow old and I begin to yearn for the warm, flower filled days of Spring. But, it's still only February! What's a girl to do? So, I decided to bring a little Spring into the house with some Spring-like flowers in a beautiful pitcher. Here's how I went about preparing the flowers and styling the foyer table.


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I began by choosing some beautiful flowers at the local supermarket and then chose my small Longaberger pitcher to hold them. 


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The pink carnations and white daisies and baby's breath just called to me. There's a hot pink chrysanthemum in the mix as well.


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The flower stems were too long for the pitcher I chose, so I held them next to the pitcher to get the correct length before cutting the stems.


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Then, I carefully cut the correct length.


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I always like to add the little packet of plant food that comes with the flowers. This ensures the flowers stay fresh longer.


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And finally, I enjoyed arranging the flowers in the pitcher. 



I decided to continue using this doily on the foyer table. You first saw this as part of my Valentine decorating. My mother crocheted this doily, so it has special meaning for me. 



The flowers and pitcher look so pretty on the doily, don't they? I think I feel a spring breeze in the air!



I moved the white flowers and vase to the bottom of the table. 


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And I added another touch of Springtime pink with the heart wreath on our front door. 


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Every time I see these flowers, I think of Spring! And, hey, March is only one week away....so Spring will be here before we know it!


Until Next Time,
Debbie
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