The Perfect Starbucks Coffee Lover Present

Looking for a great present or a thank you! Look no further than the Starbucks Gift Basket!

Full of goodies, this is sure to bring a smile to the coffee lover in your life!

Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce

Paulding & Co Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce

Need a delicious dessert for your holiday BBQ? Make these delectable pears with chocolate!

Yield: 6 servings

• 3 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• slivered zest from one orange
• 1 vanilla bean
• 6 small almost-ripe pears, preferably a firm type like Bosc, Bartlett or Concorde
• juice from one orange
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted in a 300°F. oven until just beginning to color, about 3-5 minutes
• 3 oz. good quality bittersweet chocolate, cut into small pieces
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• Combine the water, sugar, orange zest and halved, scraped vanilla bean plus its seeds, in a non-reactive (do not use aluminum or cast iron) pot large enough to accommodate the fruit. Bring to a boil and simmer for a few minutes.

1. Peel the pears. Gently remove the core from the bottom with a corer or paring knife. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each, so they stand. Place pears in the pan, stem end up. The liquid should just cover the pears.
2. Top this with a round of parchment or waxed paper (cut to size). Bring to a very gentle simmer and cook for 5-20 minutes, just until the pears are tender when pierced with a small knife. Less ripe pears will take longer, riper ones a shorter time. Remove pears and allow to cool to room temperature.
3. Add the orange juice to poaching syrup and simmer 15-20 minutes, until reduced by half. Pour over pears. May be refrigerated for up to 5 days at this point.
4. Make the chocolate sauce by bringing the heavy cream to a simmer in a small pan. Add the chocolate and stir, off the heat, until melted. If made in advance, this sauce will need to be re-warmed slightly for serving.
5. To serve place one pear in each flat bowl, with a little of the syrup. 
6. Spoon some warm chocolate sauce over the pear. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve.

About Paulding & Company

Founded by mother-daughter duo Terry and Tracy Paulding, Paulding& Co. is a commercial kitchen and instructional/event space that specializes in creating innovative event ideas for families and corporate entities through public cooking classes and exercises. Located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay area, Paulding & Company inspired Disney/Pixar animators for the Ratatouille film and director Clint Eastwood for several projects.

Memorial Day BBQ Pasta-Pairings Recipes

For your Memorial Day BBQ, treat your guests to healthy and delicious summery dishes with pasta recipes from Pasta Fits. These recipes feature colorful veggies, fresh summer seafood, and lightweight zesty sauces for a light and refreshing pairing to your hamburgers and hot dogs.

Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Grilled Veggies

 Ingredients:

• 4 oz. ziti
• 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil for brushing
• 1 (6 oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 8 oz. romaine hearts, halved lengthwise
• 8 oz./½ bunch asparagus, trimmed of tough stems
• ½ tsp. lemon zest
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp. grated garlic 

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.  Cook the ziti according to package directions.  Drain and reserve.
2. Heat an outdoor grill or grill pan over high heat.  Season the chicken with salt and pepper and a little of the oil. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 3 – 4 minutes per side or until cooked through.  Reserve.  
3. Brush the romaine and the asparagus with the remaining oil and season with salt and pepper.   Place the romaine and asparagus on the grill.  The romaine will start to char on the outside, turn to allow all sides to get a little char, about 3 minutes total. Remove from the grill and reserve.  The asparagus will turn bright green and have grill marks when it’s ready, also about 3 minutes.  
4. Remove from grill and reserve.  When the chicken, romaine and asparagus are cool enough to handle, chop the chicken into bite-sized chunks, roughly chop the romaine, and slice the asparagus into 2” pieces. Reserve.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic. Place the chicken, romaine, asparagus and ziti in a bowl and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. 

Warm Lobster and Shells Salad

 Ingredients:

• 2 (1 ½ lb.) lobsters
• 4 oz. medium shells
• 1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. grainy Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup/4 oz. cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1cup/4 oz./1 ea. endive, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup/¼ oz. shredded basil 

Directions:

1. Bring 2 large pots of salted water to a boil. In one, place the lobsters and cook 10 minutes. Plunge lobsters into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
2. In the other pot, cook the shells according to package directions. Drain and reserve.
3. While these are cooking, make the vinaigrette. Whisk the vinegar, mustard, and garlic together. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Reserve.
4. Remove the meat from the lobster. Crack the claws and knuckles and extract the meat. Remove the cartilaginous piece in the claw. Pull the tail of the body of the lobster. Place it on its side and press on it to crack the interior of the shell. It should then be easy to pull it apart and extract the meat. Take all the meat and roughly chop it into bite-sized pieces. Reserve lobster meat. You should have about 8 oz.
5. Heat a large sauté pan over low heat. Add the vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes and endive. Toss to coat and warm through. Add the lobster meat and pasta. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Sprinkle in the basil. Divide between 4 bowls.

Farmer’s Market Pasta Salad

 Ingredients:

• 8 ounces fusilli pasta
• ½ bunch radishes, thinly sliced
• 4 small heirloom carrots, scrubbed (don’t peel), thinly sliced
• 1 bunch thin asparagus, trimmed, sliced in 1 ½-inch pieces
• 1 small summer squash (yellow, green, silver)
• ½ red or white onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bell pepper (purple, red, yellow, orange, green), thinly sliced
• 2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes, sliced in half (orange, yellow, green, red)
• ½ bunch baby arugula (about 2 cups)
• ½ cup pinenuts
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil

For vinaigrette

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Place pasta in boiling water and cook until al dente.
2. Meanwhile, prepare vegetables and place carrots, asparagus, summer squash, onion, and pepper in a large bowl.
3. When pasta is done cooking (to al dente stage), drain, and place hot pasta on top of the fresh vegetables to tenderize them slightly. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over pasta salad mixture.
5. Toss in arugula, pinenuts, and fresh basil. Chill until serving time.

Recipes courtesy of Pasta Fits. Visit www.pastafits.org for full recipes.

Memorial Day Travel- Happy Weekend!

Are you ready for the weekend?! It’s a three day weekend and the kick off to summer 2016. The beach, the pool, the mountains, napping, fresh fruits and veggies, cookouts, and more. Bring it on! Here are a few things to pack to make sure you have a comfortable weekend.

FLEEPS has got you covered for the sunny days ahead. These cute and colorful sandals offers a unique design featuring an adjustable cross-ankle strap, smooth-finish toe thong and a lightweight shock-absorbent sole, perfect for strolling on the boardwalk after a long day in the waves.

Perfect for protecting your hair and face from the Jersey shore sunny rays, this fun braided hat features an embroidered Jovi Shore logo and a 4 1/2" brim.

Friday June 3rd marks National Donut Day! Strawberry, glazed, chocolate, sprinkles, jelly, powder. Kick off summer on the tastiest-looking towel around! This durable lightweight 5x5’ blanket is cozy and comfortable at the pool or at the beach!

With a fun sharkbite hemline with sexy high side slits, this Tie-Dye printed maxi dress from Hawaiian Tropic Apparel goes with the flow while you get playful in the sand. Featuring a simple v-neckline with a dropped strap back, it drapes over your body for a flirty, lightweight feel. This piece is a perfect beach cover-up or Sunday Funday piece. 

SOI. The automatic handbag light puts an end to endless searching in your purse with no buttons or switches. It illuminates automatically when you're searching for something and then goes off automatically, once you have found it.

At the end of the night- keep your teeth pearly white with the blackest activated charcoal- natural and unique, this innovate dental cleanser will keep your smile in perfect condition. Black Is White activated charcoal whitening toothpaste removes discoloration using activated charcoal without abrading or bleaching while boosting oral health.

Bundle everything into a Savvy Traveler bag, and get going. It is a holiday weekend so enjoy yourself whenever you go, and remember those who have gone before us and given themselves for this coutry.

Livi- The Portable Planter- Join the Crowdfunding Crew!

Do you know LIVI?

Livi is a portable planter that can transform windows to vertical gardens. This planter can stick on virtually any vertical surface thanks to its specialized “palms.” 

They are made of an innovative nanotechnology material that can bond with smooth surfaces repeatedly, including windows, with just a gentle push. 

It's a simple idea, but provides an attractive way to grow plants inside, on windows, stick to the side of your fridge, or pretty much anywhere there's a flat surface.

They are currently Crowdfunding for the project and already have 90% in pledges. Get more information about Livi at the Kickstarter page!

Watermelon and Avocado Salad by Celebrity Chef Annabel Langbein

Who doesn't love watermelon!?
When the Summer heat drains us, this Summer Salad refreshes.  

Most of us eat watermelon by itself as a juicy fruit snack, but it also works well in savory salads.

This recipe makes a great summer side dish or starter.
You can replace the mozzarella with feta or blue cheese.

This is a fun, tasty recipe excellent for the this holiday weekend!

Prep time   5 mins

Serves       6-8 as a starter

• 1 small or ½ large watermelon, cut into chunks
• 2 just-ripe avocados, cut into chunks
• 6½ oz mozzarella or bocconcini, torn into small chunks
• 10-12 cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
• juice and finely grated zest of 2 limes
• 1 tsp very finely chopped red chili (optional)
• salt and ground black pepper
• a small handful of basil leaves, torn roughly

To garnish (optional)

lime halves

Place watermelon, avocado, mozzarella or bocconcini and tomatoes, if using, in a bowl and toss gently. Pile onto a serving platter, sprinkle with lime juice and zest, chili, if using, and salt and pepper. Top with basil leaves and garnish with lime halves.

Watermelon and Avocado Salad can be prepared in advance, covered and refrigerated for up to 4 hours until needed.

This recipe is from Annabel’s TV series Annabel Langbein The Free Range Cook: Simple Pleasures, screening now on PBS. The accompanying book, containing all the recipes from the series, is available on amazon.comhttp://amzn.to/1GxXv0v

To preview the series go to http://bit.ly/1iKu2FW.

For more great Annabel Langbein recipes see www.annabel-langbein.com

Savvy Travelers Make Traveling Easier! (as seen on #EnchantedEngchik)

#traveling #MemorialDayWeekend? Take @savvy_travelers with you! #wipes #travel #EnchantedEngchik #refresh #flying 

http://enchantedengchik.blogspot.com/2016/05/6-hottest-summer-travel-accessories.html

Ass seen on my #enchantedengchik blog!

Toast Made- Customer Smartphone & Device Covers- Bespoke

In a world filled with bedazzled, animal print and jelly phone cases, there isn’t anything that offers the consumer a chance to show off their individual personality. 

Every department store carries the same exact cases so there isn’t a way to set your style apart from the rest, until now. Toast, a company that creates phone, tablet, laptop and game console covers using real wood veneers, is able to design anything you want.

Toast’s covers can be customized with laser-engraved text, logos, designs, original artwork or an avatar. If you’re into superheroes you can get Superman engraved or if you love the paisley design you can have a paisley-filled cover, or a cool insect or design. 

The possibilities are endless. Toast covers are available in four wood veneers; walnut, ash, bamboo and ebony. All covers are laser-cut and hand finished.

Owner Matias says he wanted simple and fun products that would be engraved and cut - in fact, burned in a very precise way - with a laser. What else gets burned- TOAST!
And thus the name was born.

Toast does custom engraving on covers for laptops, gaming, smart phones and tablets and other devices on wood or leather. These one-of-a-kind covers are awesome-
I got a cover with a seahorse and my name! I love changing out my iPhone covers and this was no exception.

Bespoke, fun, and original- and YOU- Toast custom covers! Order one today! #Post your Toast! #Toastmade!

Pictures courtesy of http://www.toastmade.com.

Snyder of Berlin Launches Reinvigorated “Cheesy-Fingers Good” Snack Line

Say Cheese!

Snyder of Berlin^®, a snack company which produces chips, cheese snacks, popcorn, and more, is launching a new reinvigorated snack line.  These Snyder of Berlin “Cheesy Fingers Good” snacks are now featured in bright & bold packaging with eye popping product shots. 

The new packages convey a fun and lively element that is perfect for snack lovers of all ages. Snyder of Berlin Puff-n-Corn®, Cheese Curls and Pop Corn start popping onto shelves starting in March.

The “Fun for You” refreshed Cheese Snack line is made from a new cheese formula, and is the cheesiest ever, with 2 kinds of real cheese: Hearty cheddar and Tangy blue specially blended for intense deliciousness. These Snyder of Berlin reinvigorated snacks are now available in a variety of sizes. Now with “Facts up Front”, the new packaging design is bold, bright and features beauty shots of the irresistible snacks.

Snyder of Berlin Cheese Curls are baked with real cheese, which is a secret blend of two kinds of cheese for an extra-intense flavor; additionally they are Gluten free, with NO preservatives and 0 grams of Trans fat. Snyder of Berlin Cheese Curls are available in a variety of sizes, with the best-selling 6 oz. size retailing at $2.50.

Snyder of Berlin Cheese Puff-n-Corn® is bursting with cheesy-licious flavor, and is made with two specially blended types of real cheese, offering a more intensely satisfying flavor. Additionally, the product is Gluten free, with NO preservatives and 0 grams of Trans fat.

With a melt-in-your mouth quality due to the unique “hulless” quality, this snack is available in Original, Cheese and White Cheddar flavors. Snyder of Berlin Puff-n-Corn is available in a variety of sizes with the best-selling 6 oz. size retailing at $2.50.

Snyder of Berlin Cheese Pop Corn has extra “cheesiness” in every bite, and is also Gluten Free, made with wholesome whole grains, and has NO preservatives. This popcorn is bursting with real cheese flavor and crunch, and has only 80 calories per cup.  Snyder of Berlin Cheese popcorn comes in a variety of sizes with the best-selling 6 oz. size Cheese popcorn retailing at $2.19 and the 6 oz. size White Cheddar popcorn retailing at $2.50.

Snyder of Berlin snacks have been made in the Laurel Highlands since 1947, and as the tagline touts: “Small town pride is crafted in every bag of Snyder of Berlin”. The Barn image next to the Berlin logo reminds consumers of the bucolic countryside throughout the Berlin, PA area.  The products can be found in supermarkets, convenience, mass market, and club and specialty stores or purchased online at www.snyderofberlin.com. 

“Our bright, bold packaging reflects the intense, new cheese formula in every bite of Snyder of Berlin cheese snacks,” says Jeff Leichleiter, Vice President and General Manager of Snyder of Berlin. “This is Fun for You done right!  Cheesy Fingers Good is what it’s all about!

 These are delicious- get some today!

About Snyder of Berlin^®:

The Snyder family chip business began in 1920 in the home kitchen of Edward Snyder II and his wife, Eda, in a small town in Pennsylvania, using a recipe based on a snack that Edward had seen at a hotel in upstate New York.   As the popularity of their chips grew, they began to expand toward Pittsburgh. Potato buyers and farmers in the Laurel Highlands got together with the Snyder family and determined it made sense to build a self-sustaining chip factory amid their fields where the potatoes were being grown. 

Since opening that plant in 1947, 

Snyder of Berlin has been producing fresh and tasty snacks in the little farm town of Berlin, Pennsylvania.  The company has grown to include a variety of products beyond potato chips such as cheese snacks, popcorn and more. The Fresh taste and small town pride are crafted in every bag of Snyder of Berlin for the past 69 years,  for more information and to see the full line of Snyder of Berlin® products, visit www.snyderofberlin.com.  

About Pinnacle Foods Inc.:

In more than 85% of American households, consumers reach for Pinnacle Foods brands. Pinnacle Foods is ranked on Fortune Magazine's 2014 Top 1000 companies list. We are a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products, which have been trusted household names for decades. Headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, our business employs an average of 4,400 employees. We are a leader in the shelf-stable and frozen foods segments and our brands hold the #1 or #2 market position in 10 of the 13 major categories in which they compete. Further information is available at http://www.pinnaclefoods.com.

Chatlight – Illuminate your Chats Everywhere on Your Device

Chatlight is the first light made specifically for video chatting that’s rechargeable. 

Chatlight fits almost all of your devices and has fully adjustable lighting brightness and direction. Its bulbs last 50,000 hours and battery lasts 90 minutes on a single charge.

Chatlight mounts to your favorite smartphone, tablet, or laptop to beautifully illuminate all of your video chats and selfies! 

Chatlight works with smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop monitors that are less than 3/4” inch thick.

It does not matter how good your web cam is, the primary foundation of a good image is the lighting, not the lens. If there is insufficient lighting, even a good lens will battle to find focus and clarity. A good lens does not fix bad quality light. www.chatlight.com.

This is great for business travel, connecting with loved ones and catching up with friends!

Duel Fuel: Protein with a Purpose

The new Dual Fuel sports nutrition line features chocolate ready-to-drink shakes (with vanilla soon to be available) and bars available in peanut butter fudge and double chocolate crisp flavors. 

These sports nutrition products are packed with protein and designed to keep athletes of all levels fueled – from college athletes to leisure athletes who simply enjoy the game.

Developed with feedback from coaches and strength & conditioning trainers at a Division 1 college,Dual Fuel™ Nutrition Bars and Ready-to-Drink Shakes are scientifically formulated to provide athletes—and anyone living an active lifestyle—with the right balance of carbohydrates and protein for top performance. The bars contain a combination of high quality whey and casein protein, and only 3 grams of sugar.

At 150 calories, they’re designed to give just the right amount of energy to fuel workouts and recovery. The ready-to-drink shakes also use our proprietary combination of whey and casein protein, and will provide you with the electrolytes you need to help re-hydrate and fuel the body during or after exercise. At 260 calories, our shakes deliver 18 grams of protein with each serving. All of the products are gluten free and contain no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or colors.

I was sent a few shakes and bars to try out, and these keep me full and satisfied for several hours. I ate them after workouts, and also drank the shakes before I had a workout at 4:30, so I’d have the shake for lunch. 

By the time I would get home after my gym time, I was hungry then. I liked the taste a lot- the peanut butter fudge is a name you hear often but I quite enjoyed it!

This company supports local athletes and aims for high nutrition and community efforts- try Duel Fuel today- you won’t regret the taste or the protein. 

Burger Lift Keeps Juicy Flavor Where you Want it- On your Burger not your Bun!

Tired of the bottom bun of your burger becoming a soggy mess? It's time to lift those buns! 

The Burger Lift is a device designed to elevate the burger above the plate and give one of America’s favorite foods a proper throne to rest upon while you enjoy dinner!

Whether you like to eat veggie burgers, turkey burgers, or beef burgers, the Burger Lift does not discriminate - it does its duty to your delicious burger! 

For your backyard or beach barbecue this summer, the Burger Lift is a must-have new item!

This is excellent for the summer BBQ and picnics you know we are planning! This excellent item keeps the flavorful juices apart from your burger so the bun won’t get soggy. Perfect for any type of juicy sandwich!

The original Burger Lift is constructed from stainless steel and is dishwasher safe. The design is both lightweight and easy to grab, but sturdy enough to withstand the test of time. It is also available in PP plastic in a vibrant red color.

Both styles are sold in a set of four. $10.99 - $24.99.https://burgerlift.com/

New Superfood Veggie Cakes from Garden Lites now Available

Garden Lites®, The Delicious Vegetable Company, is excited to announce the launch of  Garden Lites  Superfood Veggie Cakes, now available at Costco locations throughout the Northeast including  New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. 
Veggie-rich & gluten-free foods now more convenient than ever!

Superfood Veggie Cakes represent a tremendous leap forward in snacking by combining heart-healthy veggies like carrots, kale, and red bell peppers in a tasty recipe that the whole family can enjoy.

Available in the refrigerated section, Garden Lites Superfood Veggie Cakes are delicious, vegetarian and only 100 calories! The first and main ingredient in every Garden Lites product is always a vegetable, and the Superfood Veggie Cakes are no exception, packed with seven delicious vegetable ingredients. Superfood Veggie Cakes are perfect for healthy snacking on-the-go, or also as a quick side dish at home to go along perfectly with any meal. It’s never been easier to eat seven vegetables at once.

“The need for healthy and quick-prep frozen food options has never been higher, especially with discriminating consumers looking for the healthiest labels and fastest options they can fit in to their hectic schedules” said Andy Reichgut, Senior Vice President of Garden Lites.

“We’ve created DELICIOUS foods that are also good for your body– every one of our products is veggie-based and features vegetables as the first ingredient. Why the focus on veggies?  Because the one message on health that has never changed is ‘eat your vegetables’ – and we know how to make veggies delightful," said Julie Gould, Brand Manager of Garden Lites.  “Garden Lites Superfood Veggie Cakes have come to Costco’s across the Northeast, making them a convenient and easy breakfast or lunchbox addition and a great snack for the whole family!”

For more information on Garden Lites products, and a full list of retailers, visithttp://www.gardenlites.com/ and be sure to “Like” on Facebook and Follow on Twitter! Garden Lites is a Classic Cooking, LLC brand based in Jamaica, Queens, NY that produces delicious vegetable snack foods. 

Since 2008, Garden Lites has raised the bar in healthy foods by delivering full flavor that’s also veggie rich. For more information on the brand and products, please visitwww.GardenLites.com or call (718) 439-0200.

Share the Sun with WakaWaka

Summer is near, which means longer days and more sun. With the power of the sun, you can stay charged and connected wherever you go with WakaWaka and their solar powered chargers.

Over the weekend, I helped run an outdoor event, and my cell phone ran out of juice due to using it as a scanner for tickets (poor planning on part of the event organizer- he's still learning!) 

The day was partially sunny, but I was able to get a charge in the phone, and I know this is going to be a great help this summer when hiking or traveling and being in areas with little to no electricity. I could also plug the WakaWaka in to get a charge.

Then, just yesterday I was at a yard sale all day and had my Waka charging and then was able to charge my phone, without ever plugging it into the wall!

Lightweight, durable and compact, the Power+ solar powered charger and light is great for those on-the-go, emergencies and a travel must-have for the upcoming sunny vacation days ahead. WakaWaka also gives back to those in need with a ‘Buy One, Give One’ model, on a mission to end energy poverty affecting 1.2 billion people living off-grid with their solar powered solutions.

-             Full battery after 12 hrs in the sun

-             Completely charges a smartphone in 2 hours

-             4 light settings: from 5 to 75 lumen

-             Flexible positioning: table top, on a bottle, hanging from the ceiling

-             SOS emergency beacon

-             Patented Intivation SunBoost chip

-             100% recycled PC-ABS, high impact resistant

-              

This item is great to have in any situation. Have you tried it?

Week in the Life of Engchik- Eating and Spending

Hello Monday!

Ahh goals and things, how about work hard at my jobs, eat more mindfully, go to the gym, enjoy the outdoors, see my family, and declutter! April was great in that we had a GREAT anniversary vacation in Williamsburg- so so amazing!

I just won an award for an event I worked on, Montco Happening’s BEST OUTDOOR EVENT ! So excited and honored! I have a night to receive our award coming up!

I’ve decided to continue my Engchik Eats series including the pantry challenge like the one I did a few weeks ago. It kept me accountable as well as really pointing out triggers in my eating to cut down on bad habits. I want to make it clear I am not doing this because I need to be thin or love myself more: I love myself a lot and when I look in the mirror, I see a rock star.

I am doing this because a lot of times anymore, I hurt after I eat. That’s why I’m doing this.
I would like to NOT HURT when I EAT. I’ve realized a few things that I do that contribute to that pain, so here goes round two. I spoke to a nutritionist friend over the weekend and am eating more mindfully, chewing my food completely and thoroughly, and cutting out a few things.  Steve and I celebrated out first wedding anniversary in the middle of April, in Williamsburg, VA, and some of the time I felt logy or sick to my stomach from all that we ate. Like, pizza is great, but three pieces will ruin my night. Someone suggests I may become lactose intolerant so I’m watching the dairy intake. Coconut milk and yogurt are pretty great.

If I don’t put a number next to it, it means I already had it or it came from my work stash or pantry. Again, this is mostly my expenditures, not as a married couple.

Here we go!

Monday, May 2
7:19am. Coffee on the ride in, fairly weak, since I had a half cup at 5:15 when I called in to More 101.1 FM this morning to do a wrap up of an event I did.
Eating a ½ of ham and cheese panini for breakfast, ate the other ½ from Wawa for dinner last night. And a shot of ACV.

9:18am. Hungry, green apple, water. $0.

10:23am. Starving. Want to eat my lunchtime chicken! Drank a glass of chocolate coconut water instead. Ahh cravings soothed. Im finding I get hungry w stress. $0.

11:12:am. Ate three buffalo boneless wings from last night’s dinner (cut off most of the breading) $0.

2:24pm. Protein bar instead of the greens I bought. I’ll have to eat them tomorrow! Water. $0.

4:09pm. Small lollipop (butterscotch)

5:45pm. While cleaning up the kitchen I decided to see what’s in the freezer that I could make for dinner. Steve had run to the bank, so it was up to me to get creative. From the freezer, I used Trader Joe’s mushroom medley, the last of the one bag of frozen shrimp, and some broccoli, making a stir fry. I put this over mushroom rice, and also made a few baked sweet potato fries (also from Trader Joe’s.) It was pretty tasty, and I made enough for lunch today. Steve came home later, and he had some rice and an organic burrito (thank God for the organic selection from Door to Door Organics!) $0.

9:00pm. Got my Goodie Girl cookies! Had some bit size cookies, read, and off to sleep as it is beginning to storm...ooh the pets don’t like the thunder! $0.

Tuesday, May 3.
6:25am. Coffee on the way in. Another rainy day! $0.
7:45am. Ham & Cheese croissant from Saint Peter’s Bakery from the weekend. Shot of ACV in water. $0.
10:03am. Hungry, ate a bit of peanut butter w my go pack of Goodie Girl cookies. Still drinking my coffee and water. $0.

12:58pm. Lunch! Leftovers from last night – Mushrooms, a couple shrimp, broccoli, rice. Water. Still sipping ACV in water. $0.

3:12pm. Glass of chocolate coconut milk. Feels decadent. $0.

5:15pm. Home. Hungry. Water and some white cheddar popcorn that was sent to me for a story. V tasty! $0.

6:45pm. Steve just got home and is hungry for Chinese food. We got soup, pad thai, and a dish for Steve. Since it was a rainy night (again) we both enjoyed our hot soup and relaxing, He’s been sick so it was a nice night in. We both ate a few bites of our dish, we probably could have split something, but in any case, we both have enough for lunch tomorrow. A couple bite size cookies. $28.

Thursday
May 5.
8am. Coffee and a raspberry organic fig bar. Shot of ACV in water.
10am. Chocolate Coconut water. $0.

1:01pm. Lunch, leftover Thai, a couple bite size cookies. $0

8:38pm. Work day, filming a new series w a friend for our YouTube, got two episodes in. I got home, showered, and fell over onto bed. Steve brought me a Wawa sandwich, which I ate and passed out, probably didn’t even need to eat it. I slept fantastic tho. Panini- $3.50.

Friday
May 5

7:15am. Breakfast. Skipped the coffee this morning, just water and ACV. Bought a banana in the café, ate half (saved other half for tomorrow) in my oatmeal with walnuts, honey, cinnamon and coconut milk. Spent 50 cents. (and getting dressed this morning, my knickers were looser!)

 12:54pm. Lunch. Im ignoring my salad fixings in the fridge. I want food! Headed to the café and got four chicken boneless wings w no sauce, a medley of cucumbers and edamame, a slice of fried eggplant, and half a toasted chicken, spinach & cheese sandwich on excellent French bread. I ate a boneless wing. Spent $6.23.

I took two bites of the fried eggplant and my initial response is mmm fried food, even tho it tasted like old oil (but the nuggets never taste that way, they must be baked) and on my third bite, I began to feel nauseated and sick to my stomach. I quick gulped some water, and I was fine. And that fried bit went into the trash. How interesting that in just two weeks off deep fried foods is enough to turn my stomach?!

5:00pm. Dinner.  I microwaved a small stouufers lasgna, and had a sip of wine. For dessert, a couple bite size Goodie Girl cookies (the bag is decent-sized). I had a small glass of ACV and water. I’ve found that now that I take ACV, there’s no need for Zantac. I had zero issues form the red sauce or the cheese.

10:30. Bed!

May 6
Friday!
7:45am. Coffee and oatmeal at work, and grabbed a burrito for lunch! No spend Friday! (I hope!) $0.

12:12pm: Lunch- salad from caf. Very tasty! $3.19.

5:00. I was running around tonight- and I got a hoagie from the corner deli. It was fantastic, and I had eaten every bite! It was all I had too, I went to two events later that night, and there were drinks and desserts, and all I ate was a strawberry. It totally works when I listen to my body, and really enjoy what I am eating, and don’t overeat! Spent $10.19.

Guest Post: Accepting Your Whole Self by Paul Ledebur

Dear Engchik Readers;

We introduced you to Paul Ledebur, Life Coach, Leadership Trainer and Inspirational Speaker, last month on our blog.  

His story seemed to resonate a lot of you, so I am giving Paul a guest spot on my site so he can connect with and keep inspiring you all!

We will feature an article from Paul once a month.  Here is a little taste of what you can expect in the future. This was originally posted on LinkedIn. Enjoy and look for Paul's new post next month! 

What do you think?

Accepting Your Whole Self

What do you see when you look in the mirror? 

Do you see a pillar of strength, a broken person on the mend, a caring or non-caring person? 

Depending on the day or the time in your life, you may see a myriad of images looking back at you. Some may be good and some may be not-so-good.  An important thing to remember is to Accept Your Whole Self.

Every one of us has characteristics that we may not be entirely proud of or may hide from others for fear of judgement. We also have those characteristics that we want to present for everyone to see. The question is, are the less desirable traits any less important? 

My personal answer to this question is, No.

Our desirable and undesirable characteristics combined are what makes us who we are. Hardships of my early childhood created anger and confusion within me. These feelings were manifested throughout my childhood and teenage years in actions that I am not necessarily proud of. I was often closed down, insensitive and even a bully on occasion.

In my attempt to get attention, I was lashing out because that would force others to pay attention to me. It took a couple of years for me to realize that I was getting attention, but I was getting attention for the wrong reasons, I did not enjoy the negativity that I was creating and that was being directed back toward me. 

I took it upon myself to transform my feelings and actions into more positive ones. I began to receive more positive feedback from people, which was the kind of attention that I was looking for.

However, if it weren’t for these undesirable characteristics I would not be the person I am today. Instead of getting angry with someone who is lashing out, I can feel compassion and try to help them instead of turning my back.  My tolerance of someone’s bad attitude is greater because I know that they are, maybe, feeling pain or are confused themselves.  While the underlying reason may be different, I can identify with the feeling and the manifestation of that pain or confusion.

Simplified, I can be a better person knowing and accepting my undesirable characteristics just as much as I can my desirable characteristics.

Some things to remember to help you Accept Your Whole Self are:

You are NOT alone. 
No one out there is perfect. Everyone has their good times and bad times.  These situations will bring out your best and your worst. Identify both and realize how important each feeling is to making you who you are. Like a painting, you cannot have depth and show light without the contrast of the shadows. Look at the whole picture for the beauty that is you.

Own your uniqueness. 
The good, the bad and the ugly that you have experienced has molded you into a very unique individual. Use the desirable and undesirable characteristics as your strengths. One of the greatest compliments I received as a child was from my Aunt. She said, “You are one unique individual.” There is some emotion and meaning lost due to the lack of context of the situation but I can tell you that it made me so proud just to be me. Being unique is the spice of life and what makes the world an interesting place.

Learn about yourself and grow. 
You can’t accept what you don’t know. Desirable and undesirable characteristics stem from ways that you have coped with situations throughout your life.  After a situation has unfolded, take time to reflect on what you did well and what you didn’t do well. An added benefit to this is that when faced with a similar situation in the future, if you didn’t like the way you handled a situation in the past, you now have more power to change the way you react to the situation. You can make yourself into an ever adapting and ever growing individual, making acceptance of yourself easier over time.

As a Life Coach and Leadership Trainer I will guide you to self-acceptance.  I will help you realize the strengths that you possess from your past experiences, good or bad, and we will figure out how to best apply them to your life.  Feel free to contact me for private, one-on-one coaching sessions or group training.   

Written by Paul Ledebur, please contact him via Linked In!