A Lifestyle Blog

Simple Ways to Reduce Your Use of Plastic

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I have a challenge for you. (It’s one I heard about on TV during a “60 Minutes” episode on climate change and pollution.) After you read this post, I want you to try to go as long as you can without touching anything plastic. How long do you think you could last?

Almost everything we use is made of some form of plastic. One day, I accepted the challenge. It was impossible not to touch my phone or my toothbrush within moments of waking up.

I’m concerned about the rate at which we are contributing to global warming and our overdependence on plastic, especially single-use plastic. While some usage of plastic materials is unavoidable, I believe we can do without an abundance of it. For example, “we are producing over 300 million tons of plastic every year, 50% of which is for single-use purposes – utilized for just a few moments, but on the planet for at least several hundred years,” reports Plastic™ Oceans. The plastic garbage that makes it into our oceans, lakes, ponds, and streams are killing wildlife from fish to birds. Much of this trash washes up on shore and pollutes beaches.

Source: Pexels

How can someone do their part to reduce their use of single-use plastic? Follow my lead! While I’m not perfect (our household has only begun the journey to a reduced-waste lifestyle), small changes are decreasing our dependence on plastic. Which one of these small actions could you take in your household starting today?

Source: Pixabay

STOP BUYING INDIVIDUAL BEVERAGES

The days of grabbing a water bottle on the way to leave the house are over for me. If I need a roadie drink, I fill up a reusable metal bottle for the trip. Aside from the fact I’m no longer spending a ton of money on bottled water in bulk at Sam’s, I’m consciously decided that I don’t need to buy single-sized sweetened beverages. Now, that is better for my health, too!

USE METAL OR BAMBOO STRAWS

Although not as common as a metal water bottle, metal straws (some are collapsable and made to fit in your pocket or purse!) and bamboo straws are the solution for not using plastic ones. Don’t worry about how you’re going to clean them either. Most straws of this kind come with their own cleaning brush. I stock both types of straws and typically prefer the metals ones. When dining in a restaurant, I don’t use the straw provided or decline it.

An example of a reusable straw that we keep on hand at home.

SWITCH TO BAR SOAP

I’ve switched to bar soap. It’s funny, I used to think bar soap was so archaic, so I dunno…grandma-ish. Today’s premium bar soaps are luxurious, made from all-natural ingredients, and lather up just as well as most bottled shower gels. If you really want to go for the gold, ditch your plastic shower loofah and opt instead for a wash cloth.

BRING CLOTH TOTE BAGS TO THE STORE

I’m not sure why my local grocer hasn’t switched to a anti-plastic bags rule yet, but they haven’t. I bring reusable, cloth bags to the store and ask that they use them instead when sacking my groceries in small, plastic bags. If I accidentally forget my cloth bags, I simply ask the store to use paper bags.

Durable cloth totes like these can be purchased at nearly any natural foods store or grocery store and can be laundered.

REUSE PLASTIC PRODUCE BAGS

I haven’t yet purchased cloth reusuable produce bags, so in the meantime I try to avoid using plastic produce bags for items such as avocados or citrus that I can hand-wash before eating. If I have to bring home any plastic bags, then I simply stash them in my cloth grocery bags so they make their journey back to the store.

PACK BAMBOO CUTLERY

Made from earth-friendly material, bamboo flatware is surprisingly durable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher. While it’s most likely not strong enough to cut a steak, it does the job for most foods. I pack a set, like this one from Knork, in my lunch bag daily.

USE A CLEANING CLOTH INSTEAD OF PAPER TOWELS

Easy to wash in the laundry, cleaning cloths can be used to wipe up spills or wash your dishes. I don’t use them to clean windows, but they are awesome for use in the kitchen. I’ve noticed that I’m buying far less paper towels now and eventually I will stop buying them at all and opt for micro-fiber cloths instead.

MORE IDEAS FOR REDUCING YOUR USE OF PLASTIC

  1. Instead of buying your milk or juice in a plastic jug, buy it in waxed cardboard instead. The packaging contains some plastic material, but it’s far less than the alternative.
  2. Buy ingredients in bulk.
  3. Store leftovers in glass containers.
  4. Avoid using restaurant take-out containers. Bring your own or request some items to be packaged in foil.
  5. Don’t buy frozen dinners. Cook for yourself. Grab a dinner recipe here.
  6. Buy bread in a paper sleeve or make it yourself.
  7. Don’t change out your garbage can’s trash liner after every use. Better yet, don’t use a bag at all.
  8. Use real silverware instead of plastic cutlery when hosting parties.
  9. Make your own salad dressings and store them in mason jars like this recipe, Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
  10. Use biodegradable paper bags instead of plastic bags for disposing of pet waste.
  11. Make your own household cleaners. Consider this one that uses leftover orange peels. I reused a plastic spray bottle at the time, but I see value in using glass spray bottles now.

It’s on us to make a contribution to reduce our use of plastics since so much of the waste is ending up in our world’s oceans, rivers, and streams. To do more research into the environmental issue, I encourage you to visit this link by National Geographic.

Do you have ideas to share about how to reduce one’s dependence on plastic? Feel free to leave it in the comment section below to inspire others!

3 Ways to Stay Active After Work Even If You’re Feeling Lazy

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Do you ever find yourself wondering where the time went?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American works 44 hours per week, or 8.8 hours per day. If you’re like me, you spend most of that time staring at a computer while sitting at a desk.

After returning home from work, the last thing I want to do is to sit around some more. Yes, I’m tired. Yes, my brain is trying to tell me to binge watch another season of a Netflix flavor-of-the-month instead. But inactivity doesn’t improve my health, it only encourages self-isolation (I’m not nurturing friendships while watching TV!), and quite frankly my household begins to look the worse for wear. So, how do I stay active and make sure that I’m making the most of every minute of my life? I move! That’s right. I keep my body in motion.

Photo: Pexels

If your evenings after work just seem to vanish into thin air or perhaps every day is monotonous, make a conscious effort to m-o-v-e. If you’re chasing kids around the house, you’re already staying active and I commend you for being a rock star parent. This post is written for someone who doesn’t have to keep up with active kiddos or perhaps simply wants to change up their routine after work.

Disclaimer: Everyone needs to take a load off and relax, and by no means am I suggesting that you not answer your body’s call for rest. Sometimes you need to chillax. But on the other days…

1. GO OUTSIDE

Whether you use your time after work to walk the dog or maintain your landscaping, the health benefits of exposing yourself to the outdoors are vast. For example, spending as little as 15 minutes outdoors in the sun will increase your level of Vitamin D, a nutrient needed to maintain strong bones.

Besides, even a short walk has a de-stressing effect and can improve your concentration allowing you to think creatively. By letting your mind wander, you may just return home from your walk with a renewed sense of curiosity for life and that is a good thing!

Devoting time outdoors, whether I’m walking or tending garden,
helps me destress and resets my mood. I may purchase a cruiser bike!

2. PREPARE FOOD

On the evenings when I’m the most tired after work, the last thing I want to do is prepare a meal. But I know if I take a few minutes to read a recipe and set out the ingredients and supplies, I’m going to keep my brain active. I could easily sit down on the couch with a microwave meal and veg out in front of the TV, and yes, I’ve done that many times. But cooking for myself has taught me about the science of food, keeps my brain actively engaged, and ultimately I eat healthier, more flavorful meals.

caprese salad
One of the easiest salads to prepare, I often enjoy a Caprese Salad or antipasti platter on the nights that I don’t have the energy or the time to make dinner.

Cooking your own meals helps your brain (and your body!) stay healthy. Not only are you saving money because you’re not ordering takeout meals, but it gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Need a recipe? Try one of these healthy dinner recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less.

3. DO YOUR CHORES

Mowing the overgrown lawn, doing laundry or cleaning a room of your home are not necessarily fun activities, but completing these tasks are a necessity and they keep you burning calories and moving! Imagine how rewarding you’ll feel once you sit down for the day only to realize that your to-do list is accomplished! Tackling those not so fun chores once or twice a week after work will afford you more discretionary time to enjoy yourself.

Need inspiration? Check out this household cleaning checklist.

There ya have it – a solid kick in the pants to keep you motivated! What activities make you feel alive even after a long day at work? Tell me in the comments below!

Keto Dinner Recipes That You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less

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After months of yo-yo eating (we eat what we want when we want only to regret it later and try to eat healthy), we’ve committed to living a Keto lifestyle. If you’re reading this post, you’re either already eating a low-carb diet or would like to make healthier eating decisions.

In my opinion, Keto* is not a diet, it’s a lifestyle. So, our household has decided to get back on the eat-healthier-bandwagon and adopt a new standard of better eating. I’m glad we did! Eating better just makes me feel better.

Like me, I’m sure you are strapped for time after getting home to prepare dinner. So, this post includes several dinner recipes that are low-carb and high on flavor that can be made in 30 minutes or less. Thanks to some wonderful fellow bloggers, I’ve created the ultimate line-up of dishes!

My version of Hibachi Steak Lettuce Wraps includes using soft ribeye steak cut into small chunks, then marinated in a soy sauce and canola oil marinade, and later cooked to perfection over medium heat. I prefer to cook my steak to medium rare or medium. Spooned over romaine or green leaf lettuce, the steak wraps are delicious when combined with shredded carrot, red cabbage, and optional yum yum sauce.

If you’re someone who loves chicken, you’ll love indulging in Low Carb Spark’s Chicken Marsala recipe! If you’d rather swap out the wine for a substitute ingredient, there are smart options provided as well. The pan-seared chicken is smothered in a rich marsala wine mushroom sauce to create a scrumptious, easy weeknight dinner. The best part of this dish is that it is decadent in taste but low in carbs!

Looking for a dinner entree with a kick of spicy heat? Consider preparing Whip & Wander’s Cuban Picadillo, an entree with flavors of Latin American cuisine. The dish is a combination of ground turkey meat, tomatoes, olives, green onions, spices, and plenty of chili peppers, and it goes great when served on a bed of low-carb cauliflower rice.

Sometimes I think I could eat salad for lunch and dinner daily. I love a hearty salad made with ingredients that bring a flavor punch! If you love an Asian salad, then you’ll appreciate Drive Me Hungry’s Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad made with healthy ingredients. Because Jamie doesn’t include fried wonton strips or rice noodles in her recipe, the salad is low-carb. Making it is as easy as assembling the fresh ingredients in a bowl and preparing a shaker dressing made with soy sauce to pour over the salad!

One of my go-to meals almost once a week is preparing a seafood dish because it’s incredibly healthy and can be made in less than 30 minutes. That why I love the idea of Savory Tooth’s Keto Salmon Patties made by creating a salmon mixture, forming it into patties, and then pan searing until they are crusty on the outside and tender on the inside. Julia also includes a dill-garlic dip to use for dipping (or smothering!) on the crispy salmon patties — the ultimate flavor bomb!

These Keto inspired recipes are just the line-up you need to create delicious low-carb recipes for the work week. As long as you have the ingredients on hand and prep your work station in advance, you will be able to get these meals on the table in 30 minutes or less!

Want a refreshing yet healthy drink to add to your meal? Try my Cucumber Mint Detox Water! Or perhaps you’re craving dessert after dinner? Give my Mixed Berry Popsicles with Coconut Water a try, a healthy alternative to ice cream.

I’d love to hear what you think of these recipes in the comment section below. Share your thoughts!

*Be sure to research the Keto diet and ask your doctor if it is right for you.

4 Reasons to Visit Four Fights Distilling in Corning, New York

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After a return visit to Upstate New York and the Corning area, I decided to add an adventure we had never included on our itinerary before – a tour of a local distillery! Four Fights Distilling should be a must-stop for any traveler who appreciates locally crafted spirits.

Operating for the last five years from their location in “Extended Corning,” Matt and Donna Bowers craft spirits one small batch at a time. Every hand-sealed, labeled bottled.

We were fortunate enough to have our tasting room experience and tour sponsored by the Bowers and went behind-the-scenes to learn more about the distilling process. Why should you visit? I have 4 great reasons to add a visit to Four Fights Distilling to your travel plans!

1.) You’re supporting a local business. The Bowers are some of the friendliest and hospitable people you’ll ever meet. Matt makes the booze while Donna mixes the drinks! The couple is incredibly welcoming. You’ll appreciate hearing their story of the distillery’s origination and learn how they manage to do it all themselves.

2.) They know their stuff. From the science behind creating the spirits (and there’s a lot to learn) to the branding, the Bowers do an excellent job. During your tour, you’ll learn that Matt’s knowledge of spirits is vast (he’s self-taught!), and that there a lot involved in producing each spirit.

Four Fights Distilling gets their corn from a local farmer and then the mash goes back to a pig farm to complete the cycle. According to Matt, the water in Corning is “limestone water similar to Kentucky enzyme water” aiding in the distilling process.

3.) Four Fights Distilling’s spirits could compete with some of the well known brands on the market. Matt does his homework and continues to push boundaries when developing ideas. While I appreciate a smooth vodka, I was surprised to find that I also like Four Fights’ Bourbon. In fact, upon sipping it I exclaimed, “Wow! I don’t normally care for Bourbon, but that’s one I like!” Everything we tasted was fantastic. Their top sellers continue to be the Four Fights Bourbon, Suite 101 Gin, Emperial Apple Pie, and Emperial Cinamoon.

4.) Learning about the process of creating booze makes you love it that much more. Over the years, the more I discover about the craft of creating something, the more I appreciate it. You’ll never look at a bottle of aged bourbon or distilled vodka the same way either.

Visitors can enjoy sipping on craft cocktails Thursday-Sunday during select hours. (I recommend trying The Corning Mule or Crystal City Cosmo.) Cocktails range from $7-$11 each or you can try a Spirits Flight made of four tasters for $6. Interested in learning more about Four Fights Distilling? Visit their site or follow them on Facebook or Instagram!

Know that you’re going to visit Corning, New York soon? View my complete post highlighting the best of the Crystal City here.

Fizzy Grapefruit Sparkler

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The citrus flavors of summer fruit are delicious so I couldn’t resist adding this bubbly grapefruit cocktail to my lineup of all-star seasonal cocktails. Loaded with grapefruit and lime flavor, Fizzy Grapefruit Sparkler is incredibly simple to make using ingredients that are easy to locate at your grocery store.

When you need to serve guests a fun drink this summer at your poolside party or before dining al fresca on the deck, consider my Fizzy Grapefruit Sparkler! Packed with citrus punch, it gets its sweetness from a bit of added Stevia and the fizziness and tanginess from the Izze® Grapefruit Beverage. It would be great served alongside warm crostini topped with feta and herbs or figs as an appetizer! Let’s toast to that!

1 glass

Fizzy Grapefruit Sparkler

This tangy drink is both sweet and sparkly - perfect for a cooling down from the summer heat!

10 minPrep Time

10 minTotal Time

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Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. Burnett's Orange Vodka
  • 1 squeeze of lime wedge
  • 1 squeeze of a large wedge of grapefruit (about 1/4 of a grapefruit minus the seeds)
  • 1/2 tsp. Stevia
  • Crushed ice
  • 1 can IZZE® Sparkling Grapefruit Beverage

Instructions

  1. Pour the first four ingredients in a glass and stir gently with a straw.
  2. Add crushed ice to fill glass.
  3. Top with IZZE® Sparkling Grapefruit Beverage.
  4. Add mint and/or grapefruit slice for garnish.
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https://onedelightfullife.com/fizzy-grapefruit-cocktail/

How to Make the Most of a Weekend in Omaha, Nebraska

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Want to visit an affordable midwestern city where you never run out of things to do and they are all pretty affordable? Head to Omaha, Nebraska!

Easy to navigate because of its grid system, visitors will appreciate the accessibility of the city and its on-trend downtown scene. Omaha is dotted with historic neighborhoods. We stayed in the Midtown Crossing area located within minutes of the Old Market district, the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, and the Blackstone District (a ultra-hip area for those who appreciate supporting local eateries).

Let me show some of the BEST places to visit while in town!

OMAHA ZOO

This isn’t your typical zoo. The Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium’s exhibits are world famous! It is known for its indoor Desert Dome and North America’s largest indoor rainforest, but if you ask me, one of the ultimate stops within the park is the Antarctic penguin area!

Dress comfortably for the season you’re visiting the zoo. You’ll be doing a lot of walking unless you traverse the park by train or Skyrail.

While walking through the Lied Jungle you will be able to observe over 90 species of animals and towering waterfalls. Crossing a rope swing bridge takes you to a new area of the jungle while winding paths lead you to an abundance of tropical flowers and seating areas. Bring your camera! You’re going to want to capture the bright colors (and sounds!) of the jungle.

When visiting the zoo, you can expect to see plants and animals from all parts of the world. Fun Fact: You can sign up for Backstage Tours that take you behind-the-scenes at the zoo.
Ask about how to gain an all access pass!

I think visitors will need a minimum of three hours to tour the zoo and aquarium, a swift look at many of its best features but certainly not enough time to enjoy the behind-the-scenes opportunities or animal feeding sessions.

The Desert Dome can be seen from the road as you enter into the zoo’s parking lot. It’s mammoth! Get ready to be transported to another climate as you walk red dirt paths to view reptiles, meerkats, bobcats and much more!

Again, you’re going to want to plan your journey since the park features seven indoor exhibits and eight acres of African Safari. My second favorite area to observe the animals was the inside the Cate Giraffe Herd Rooms. A female giraffe was born only weeks before our visit, and we were able to see resting while her mother ate nearby!

Is this the closest you’ve been to a giraffe? Get a closer view by heading inside the giraffe herd rooms or you can even sign up to feed them!

Pro Tip: Secure round-trip tickets for the Skyfari (think ski lift) that takes you above and across the zoo. The slow moving rail system is the perfect way to observe animals in their habitats without fighting the crowds. I don’t recommend taking the tram, which stops way too often along it’s trail and you’ll find yourself sitting and waiting for passengers to board rather than moving on to your next stop. Prefer the train? It winds through the top-half of the park.

If you ride the Skyfari, you get an unobstructed view of the entire park and directly above the African Grasslands.
A steam locomotive features 11 open-air coaches and a caboose, an ideal choice for those who want to see almost the entire zoo without walking it.

You’re going to want make a trip to the zoo in the early morning hours. We scored a great parking spot close to the entrance because we arrived at 9am. However, the lot was beyond capacity by the time we left the park three hours later. And it’s a HUGE parking lot!

If you want to plan your experience prior to arriving at the zoo and aquarium, you can download their free app. You can even purchase your tickets via the app! The park is open year round except on Christmas Day.

THE DURHAM MUSEUM

Dripping with history and filled with interactive exhibits, The Durham Museum is a must-stop during your visit to Omaha. The building was originally opened in 1931 as Union Pacific’s train station but today it is the home of permanent, interactive exhibits highlighting the city’s story.

The Union Station lobby is a photographer’s dream!
If you appreciate taking photos of architecture and design, you’ll easily spend upwards of thirty minutes shooting images of the restored railroad station.

Kids (and adults!) will enjoy walking through restored locomotives and viewing the model trains, pretending to be a shopper in the Buffett Grocery Store, and exploring a life-size tipi when learning about Native American history.

Enjoy diving deep into the history of a location you’re visiting? Step inside the Mutual of Omaha Theater to watch a film detailing the history of Omaha. Prefer to view photography? Don’t miss the museum’s expansive photo gallery and make a special stop at their photography archive open to the public Tuesday-Friday only.

For me, I enjoyed the locomotive exhibits and the history of the steam train the most since I come from a railroad family. Visitors of all ages will appreciate the meticulous restoration of the commuter trains on-site. You’ll feel like you’re a passenger traveling from Omaha to Kansas City while sitting inside train!

This model train set is out of bounds!

Pro Tip: Be sure to save time to visit the soda fountain and candy counter located adjacent to the museum’s main entrance. You’ll love stepping back in time to the early ’30s while enjoying an old-fashioned phosphate or sundae!

The museum is open at Monday 10am-5pm, Tuesday 10am-8pm, Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm. Admission is $11 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $7 for children ages 3-12. Children under 2 years old are admitted for free. Another bonus? Parking is free on the 10th Street bridge located across from the main entrance. There are two levels for parking, so it shouldn’t be an issue.

DINING

When you think of Omaha, you don’t necessary think of tacos, oysters or duck salad. You’d be wrong! Dining options in Omaha are vast and on any given day you can find meals that appeal to every palette.

When visiting the Blackstone District, a renovated neighborhood near Midtown Crossing, we dined on tacos at Mula, a Mexican Kitchen & Tequileria. If you love tequila, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store thanks to over 150 tequilas listed on the menu! The staff is well-versed in the history and production of tequila.

We enjoyed the homemade House Guac as an appetizer to accompany our drinks (a Michelada and a Cucumber Margarita). Later, we dined on delicious tacos made with flavorful grilled meats and fresh produce. I highly recommend the Carne Asada Taco and the Baja Fish Taco. (Each taco is sold individually.) Eventually, I ordered a warm plate for freshly fried Churro Bites covered in cinnamon and sugar – so yummy I nearly finished them all on my own!

Pro Tip: Dining with eight or more people? You’ll need a reservation. If you have a party of four or less people, ask for a table near the window for an open air dining experience that allows you to dine while people watching the neighborhood.

When in Omaha, you have to dine on the classic “Blackstone Reuben” sandwich at Crecent Moon. “Originally created at the famous Blackstone Hotel (just a few steps away) with slow cooked corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss and 1000 island dressing, plus a couple of our secret ingredients, grilled on marble rye. This is one Reuben you’ll rave about.”

Another great place to eat is Plank Seafood Provisions, located in the Old Market district. We snuck in just in time for their “Coastal Happy Hour in the Heartland” from 3pm-6:30pm on a Saturday and took advantage of the discounted menu options! Bellied up to the Edison-lit bar for discounted oysters and a plate of loaded fries covered in clam chowder, we sipped on cold wine and beer to our hearts’ delight.

Hours later we found ourselves hungry for dinner! Despite our efforts to find an affordable steak house in the Old Market district that didn’t require a reservation (or that didn’t have an 1.5 hour wait), we were drawn to the outdoor patio at M’s Pub.

Someone waiting for the hostess told us that we needed to book a reservation, but we were sat within minutes without one and happily dined on premium dinner entrees including this warm duck salad drizzled with warm bacon vinaigrette.

Pro Tip: Why wait in line for a table? Opt for patio dining or sit at the full-service bar! Sometimes you actually score faster, better service.

Turner Park located in Midtown Cross near our hotel, Element.

Trust me! You’re going to be glad you visit Omaha, Nebraska. The city welcomes you with open arms and they make it hard to leave. I guess we’ll be returning then!

This post contains sponsored experiences. Since I was planning to travel to the area, I contacted Visit Omaha who sent me on a few adventures!

Want to extend your trip? Head about an hour’s drive to the state’s capital city, Lincoln! Plan your trip using my post including insider pro tips!

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