Healthy Living Celebration: We Want Your Stories!

Those of you have been reading us for a while might remember our Healthy Living Celebration -- featuring FITspirational stories of self-made athletes and others who used real-life wake-up calls to change their lives for the healthier. It's been a while since we've accepted new stories for this series, but we've missed hearing from you.

Good news, though! We're looking to get the fun started again.

If you missed 'em the first time, you can get caught up on these stories now:

• Laura overcame her eating disorder to embrace exercise.
• Josie quit being a quitter to get healthier and fitter.
• Chrissy found her inner athlete and rolled her way to running.
• The Nerdy Runner learned to love whole foods and marathons despite her busy schedule.
• Ashley (yes -- that's ME!). Enough third person. I share part one of my healthy living story: How I understood health as a child and struggled to find my way.
• Maissa became the gazelle of her dreams, falling head-over-heels for running.
• Jen embarked on an awesome journey from being overweight to in-charge of her health.
• Amy went from curling up on the couch to, well, CURLING!
• Brittany used to hate the gym. Then she found she had a thing for yoga.
• Karen went from restricting to living the healthy life through running and vegetarianism.
• In Part II of my Healthy Living story, I tell you all how I fell in love with running.
• Alysa overcame disordered eating habits/self-image and found a strength she never thought she had through running and yoga.
• Jenna went from letting herself go . . . to being ON the go with her cute Collie/Lab pooch.
• Maddie's fitspiration started at Lululemon and continues with half marathon training.
• Jen danced her way healthy with Zumba . . . and keeps it up with running and eating whole foods!
• Kerri ran/walked her way through a couch-to-5K program and is now eying 10Ks and half marathons!
• Nina went from smoking and starving to running and stretching.
• Samantha is learning to find balance with diet and exercise, embracing healthy habits.
• Rowena suffered through a crash and found there's more to health than fitting into THE dress.
• Jessica learned there's no such thing as a "real" runner and rocked a half marathon!
• Marike never thought she'd be a runner. Now she can't see life any other way!
• Loving Myself writes about her struggle with exercise anorexia and how her friends helped her heal.
• Ariel went from gym-obsessed and drained to running with a smile.
• Laura learned to love whole foods and running, as well as the healthy living community!
• Alison took a leap of faith and started running. Her goal? Run the Chicago Marathon!
• Kati went from eating crap and hating gym class to biking 100K and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
• Jenn went from living rules and restrictions to loving the healthy life.

Over the next couple months, we'll be featuring up to 20 new healthy living stories from our readers. If you'd like to submit your own post, here's all you need to do:

1. Write up a thoughtful story about what made you want to be fit. What inspired you to eat more healthfully. What sport you thought you could never do. What situation served as a wake-up call to your need for a healthier lifestyle.
2. Anything goes -- nothing is too silly or insignificant. (But please write something new -- don't just send us a link to an already-published post.)
3. Email this story to us: neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com. Use the title: HEALTHY LIVING STORY.
4. Also send along 2 (or 3) photos to help illustrate your story. We'd prefer they be at least 500 pixels in height or width.
5. Include your contact information (name, what you'd like us to call you, blog address -- if you have one, etc.)
6. Be patient. We'll get back to you ASAP -- but publishing on the site may take several weeks.

Of course, if you have any questions -- just leave 'em in the comments section or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!!

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12 Cookies of X-Mas: Sparkled Ginger Cookies

Ryan (from Ryan's Baking Blog) writes:

I hold vegan recipes to the same standards as non-vegan recipes because I know they can be just as delicious, or even more delicious, depending on how they're made and the right flavors and ingredients, etc. People think vegan baked goods are dry, dense, inedible, but that just isn't true.

These cookies are delicious, you don't have to wait for anything to get to room temperature, and you can eat the dough without any health risk. What's not to love about vegan baking?


This recipe does actually call for this specific kind of sugar, you can use turbinado or demerara sugar, it's used for the "sparkle" and for some added molasses flavor. It's kind of like brown sugar but much more coarse.

If you don't have it, you can just use plain white sugar, but if you have this kind or any kind of coarse sugar, I really recommend it.


These cookies come together pretty easily and pack a lot of ginger flavor. It is a soft, chewy cookie (my favorite) with a slightly crisp outside and sparkles on top.

Surprise your vegan AND non-vegan friends with these treats -- they'll be a hit.

SPARKLED GINGER COOKIES
Adapted from Vegan With A Vengeance
(Makes about 2 dozen cookies.)

What you'll need . . .

• 4 tablespoons turbinado or demerara sugar (regular sugar works if you don't have either of these, but coarse sugar is best)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup soy milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method . . .

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets. Place the turbinado (or demerara) sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. In a separate large bowl, mix together oil, molasses, soy milk, sugar, and vanilla.
3. Beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in three additions, mixing until just combined after each addition. Do not overmix.
4. Roll dough into 1-inch balls, flatten each ball into a 1 1/2-inch-diameter disk (use the bottom of a drinking glass). Press one side of the cookie into the turbinado sugar and place on a baking sheet, sugar side up, about 1 inch from other cookies. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are starting to firm up, let cool on sheets for about 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Thanks so much to Ryan (Ryan's Baking Blog) for this awesome holiday recipe!!! Be sure to check out his site for more great stuff. One of my recent favorites is -- surprise, surprise -- his Nutella-Filled Thumbprint Cookies!

12 COOKIES OF X-MAS

• Day 1 (Salted Cornmeal Sugar Cookies)
• Day 2 (Mexican Hot Chocolate Chippers)
• Day 3 (Festivus Bars)
• Day 4 (Julie's Chocolate Chai Tea Cakes)
• Day 5 (Chocolate Chunk Oaties)
• Day 6 (Fudge-Topped Chai Bars)
• Day 7 (Clove-Spiced Shortbread)
• Day 8 (Nicole's Double Chocolate Almond Biscotti)
• Day 9 (Nightcap Fudge)
• Day 10 (Pumpkin Snickerdoodles)

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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12 Cookies of X-Mas: Double Chocolate Almond Biscotti

I'm Nicole from Making Good Choices! When Ashley and Stephen tweeted about guest posting for their 12 Cookies of X-Mas series, I knew I'd be able to help. I have a lot of time on my hands these days, and I have no shortage of holiday cookie recipes.

For me, December means holiday baking. Each year I put together boxes of treats for close family and friends which consists of a mix of traditional and new holiday cookie recipes. No matter what I switch up in my holiday cookie boxes, you can be sure you will find at least one type of biscotti.

They are perfect for breakfast or dessert, plain or dunked in coffee or tea.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ALMOND BISCOTTI

What you'll need . . .

• 2/3 cup whole almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 1 2/3 cups flour
• 1/3 cup dutch processed cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Method . . .

1. Position one of your oven racks in the center of your oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking liner and put aside
2. In a large bowl mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Then add in the sugar.
3. Add two whole eggs, the egg yolks, and vanilla.
4. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed until just combined.
5. Add in the almonds and chocolate chips and beat on low speed until all mixed.
6. Place the dough on to a lightly floured work surface and divide it in half.
7. Shape each half into approximately a 2 1/2 inch by 12 inch flat log. The dough will be sticky so you may need to add more flour to your hands.
8. Carefully transfer the logs onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 3 inches apart because they will spread as they bake.
9. Place the baking sheet on the center rack of your oven and bake for about 35 minutes, or until the logs are firm to the touch.
10. When done place the baking sheet on a wire rack and allow the logs to cool completely.
11. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and transfer the biscotti logs to a cutting board.
12. Using a serrated knife, cut the logs on a slight diagonal into 1-inch thick slices.
13. Place biscotti slices on the baking sheet.
14. Bake the biscotti until they are crisp, about 10 minutes.
15. Place baking sheet on a wire rack and allow the biscotti to cool completely on the sheet.

Have a happy holiday!

Thanks so much to Nicole for offering up such a delicious guest post! Check out her blog, Making Good Choices, for more great stuff. And if you want to find more holiday cookie recipes -- you've come to the right place!

12 COOKIES OF X-MAS

• Day 1 (Salted Cornmeal Sugar Cookies)
• Day 2 (Mexican Hot Chocolate Chippers)
• Day 3 (Festivus Bars)
• Day 4 (Julie's Chocolate Chai Tea Cakes)
• Day 5 (Chocolate Chunk Oaties)
• Day 6 (Fudge-Topped Chai Bars)
• Day 7 (Clove-Spiced Shortbread)

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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12 Cookies of X-Mas: Chocolate Chai Tea Cakes

Guest Post from Julie:

I was on a bit of a cookie baking kick this weekend. And by "cookie baking kick," I mean I spent over 10 hours mixing up dough, baking and decorating. These tea cake cookies were one of the easiest varieties to make, and taste amazing, if I may say so myself.

Based off the traditional Mexican wedding cake cookies (or butterballs or tea cakes or whatever you’d like to call them), these cookies are buttery, chocolate-y and just a bit spicy.

I picked up this Dagoba Chai cocoa powder when Ashley was visiting me in Ithaca. I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t actually have any tea in it, and the "chai" part of the name came from the spices added. But I’m never one to turn down chai-spiced treats!

But don’t worry! If you don’t have this particular cocoa powder, I included a substitution below.


CHOCOLATE CHAI TEA CAKES
Makes about 50 cookies

• 1 c butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 1/2 c powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 c flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 c blanched, sliced almonds
• 2 T Dagoba Chai cocoa powder*
• 2 T brown sugar
• Powdered sugar for dusting

* If you don’t have Dagoba Chai cocoa powder, substitute 1 T + 1 tsp of regular cocoa powder, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg and 1/4 tsp cloves.


Method . . .

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a food processor or blender, grind the almonds into small, coarse pieces, then set aside.
3. Beat the butter and powdered sugar together until creamy. Beat in the vanilla extract, flour and salt. Mix in the almonds, cocoa powder and brown sugar until blended.
4. Roll the dough into 1″ balls (about 2 tsp of dough per cookie) and space 1″ apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350F for 11-14 minutes, until the tops of the cookies are firm.
5. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar, and allow to cool completely.

Enjoy the rest of the 12 Cookies of X-Mas series -- Day 1 (Salted Cornmeal Sugar Cookies), Day 2 (Mexican Hot Chocolate Chippers), and Day 3 (Festivus Bars) -- it has definitely gotten my mouth watering.

Thanks for allowing me to guest post, Ashley!

Thanks again to Julie (of Savvy Eats). She cooks up some great stuff in her Ithaca kitchen -- that's for sure! If you aren't familiar with her blog, check it out now! And if you liked these, you may also like her White Chocolate Tangerine Tea Cakes!

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READER SPOTLIGHT: Health Coaching

Do you aspire to eat better, lose weight, or push yourself to the next fitness level? Have you ever considered seeing a dietitian or personal trainer? Are you afraid that they will make recommendations that are too hard to follow or don’t agree with your lifestyle?

The secret to good health is easy, right? Just eat right and exercise. That’s all!


Just kidding -- kind of. Food and exercise are definitely important aspects of health, but it’s not that simple, is it? Ashley wrote that skinny is not the same as healthy, being healthy is about making choices, and those choices are different for everyone. A lot of people have questions about diet, exercise, and how they can be healthier. It can be hard to navigate those areas in life sometimes, especially if you don’t have a lot of support to do so.

That’s why I want to tell you about health coaches. I’m currently studying to become a certified holistic health coach, but not long before I enrolled in my program I had never heard of health coaches myself! I was already a subscriber here, so when I read through comments on health-related posts I emailed Ashley to see if I could share my excitement about health coaching with all of you.

Briefly, what brought me to health coaching was a big transition in my own life: my husband of almost four years and I moved halfway across the country less than a year ago. I’m a long-time vegetarian; he’s an unrepentant omnivore. We’re making some lifestyle adjustments ourselves. We joined a CSA, I got him to watch Food, Inc., we’re eating better and he’s lost 30 pounds since we moved. Through my own blog I have become really passionate about encouraging people to prepare delicious, healthy, meatless meals. When I learned about health coaching, I discovered a path to formalize the education I was seeking on my own and wanted to forge my hobby into a new and rewarding career.


A health coach supports you in achieving your health and wellness goals using a holistic approach to health to help find the path that best suits you and your life. Unlike doctors, dietitians, or personal trainers, this holistic method addresses all the areas affecting your well-being, not just food or exercise, and helps you make sustainable lifestyle changes to improve your health and happiness. Most coaches focus on helping specific groups like vegetarians, athletes, new moms, kids, or people with food allergies so they can better tailor their expertise to those clients’ needs.

After an initial consultation session to discuss your current health concerns your health coach will help you set attainable goals and then offer the support needed to ensure your success. Some of the services available to clients are individual and group health counseling sessions, cooking classes, food samples, recipes, nutrition workshops, and natural food store tours. Most clients see results like reduced food cravings, improved personal relationships, weight loss, improved sleep, increased energy, reduced stress, and clearer skin.


It’s not about a specific diet, it’s not about a workout plan, it’s not about guilt or deprivation. It’s about setting clear intentions and taking the steps to achieve the healthiest, happiest you. A health coach can help you find that path and wants to see you through that journey.

About the author: Stacy is currently enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become a certified holistic health coach. She can also be found in her kitchen searching for creative ways to feed her husband vegetables. Stacy is excited that she can begin taking clients in August and will be able to offer discounts while in school. She is offering FREE health history consultations to readers who are interested! Please visit her health coaching site for more information or email her -- stacy@littlebluehen.com.


Thanks, Stacy! And be sure to check out her blog -- Little Blue Hen. If YOU'd like to be featured in our reader spotlight, just check out our info post with all the gooey details.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!!

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Respect the Marathon? Part II

You may remember a little post we did back in April called: Respect the Marathon? It was sparked by an advertisement in Runner's World and the ongoing debate over what is considered "really running" a marathon or not. If you don't remember what this is all about, go check out the post (which had some AMAZING comments, I might add). But the abridged version is in the photo above.

Sarah M. (in all her post-marathon glory, below) recently wrote us in personal response to this post and this advertisement. Her email gives me chills -- no joke. Her words are seriously inspiring/motivating . . . and she was nice enough to let us share her thoughts with you all!


I have been walking for fitness for about 8 years, and just transitioned into running in 2009. I had completed 5ks, 10ks and three half marathons by walking them, and decided it was time to bump it up a notch. Plus, when you run, you finish faster.

I did two half marathons last year, along with the 5ks, 10ks, 10-milers, etc. Somewhere along the way, I was inspired to run a marathon, which I said would never happen, especially 8-10 years ago. But, by God’s awesome grace, I completed my very first full marathon in April. Yes, it took me six hours, but I’m 178 pounds lighter than I used to be.

You are right. The marathon is about personal achievement. And, when I crossed that finish line in April, you would have thought I just won Boston.

• Respecting the marathon is about the hour upon grueling hour you put into it the months and years leading up to it.
• Respecting the marathon is writing the check, turning in your registration and believing that you can do it. You will do it, whatever it takes.
• Respecting the marathon is, when the race course splits, following the full marathon route, not the half marathon route.
• Respecting the marathon is not giving up at mile 18.
• Respecting the marathon is meeting God at mile 23.
• Respecting the marathon is putting one foot in front of the other.
• Respecting the marathon is watching the mile markers increase with every step from 23, 24 and 25.
• Respecting the marathon is having nothing left in you to give, but euphoria washing over you when you cross the 26 mile marker.
• Respecting the marathon is finishing, whether you are crossing the finish line in 3:02 or 6:02.
• Respecting the marathon is wearing the medal with pride, and wanting to do it again.

I’m not an elitist, and I’m not as hard-core as some of those athletes, but somewhere along this journey, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am an athlete too.

Wow. Right?

So, I hope you all enjoy and take as much from her words as we did. Sarah is truly an inspiration, a voice for the true spirit of the marathon. So, again, Sarah, thank you so much for taking the time to write us this amazing message! And if you have a story about your own journey toward a healthy life you'd like to tell us, just shoot us an email at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com. You may even be featured on the blog!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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GUEST POST: What To Do with that Old Asbestos Flooring

From the 1950s through the 1970s vinyl flooring and floor tiles usually contained asbestos fibers. They provided tensile strength to the compound, provided some insulating properties and served as a bonding agent. If you’re refurbishing an older home asbestos flooring shouldn’t be a surprise. What you choose to do with it does require some planning however.

The principal danger of asbestos materials, new or old, is dust. In the case of old flooring, roofing or insulation, tired asbestos can break up during removal and release dust during the process, which in turn puts asbestos fibers in the air. Those fibers are microscopic, can be inadvertently inhaled, and years later can cause asbestosis or mesothelioma cancer. That’s a serious diagnosis; the mesothelioma prognosis for most patients is less than two years survival.

Many people with old asbestos flooring or insulation choose to leave it in place. If it is sealed off from human exposure it can’t do any damage, and won’t be worn through daily use as flooring can be. If you have an old asbestos floor and don’t care about exposing what’s beneath it (such as hardwood) you may be better off just covering it with new flooring made from non-toxic composites.

If you choose to remove it, consider using a certified asbestos abatement professional. If you’re going to make it a DIY project, take some basic precautions – such as respiratory protection. Never do anything that will create fragmentation or dust. If the tiles you’re removing tend to break, wet them down to minimize dust. Never sand the adhesive beneath them; that is usually an asbestos product as well. Don’t use a vacuum to clean up; that will pick up some of the rubble but will just put the asbestos fibers back in the air. For some good basic information on asbestos and older homes, consult the EPA fact sheet that will take you through the basics.

Ben Stillwater is a freelance writer for Asbestos News, an online resource on mesothelioma and asbestos news.

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GUEST POST: Music to Your Feet by Erin

As a person who exercises for health benefit more than fun, finding the right workout playlist directly corresponds with my enjoyment while running. Trust me, there’s nothing like the Black Eyed Peas to help get my heart pumping, but I’ve found plenty of songs that aren’t on the Ryan Seacrest Top 40 that really are music to my feet. As in, they get me moving in different ways and help me keep my workout exciting. Here are some of the songs I use and how they help me move through my run.

1. So What by Pink – This is almost always the first song I listen to. It immediately gets me in “the zone” and it’s slow enough that it’s a good warm-up song.
2. Rosalita by Bruce Springsteen – Once I’m warmed up, this song helps me move to a faster beat. The song is 7+ minutes and it picks up the pace throughout. So, by the end of the song I am moving in full swing.
3. Tenderness by General Public – To keep the fast pace going and have some fun, I switch to this song, which literally makes me want to swing my arms around and sing along.
4. Caught up in You by .38 Special – I’m an 80s girl at heart, so this song makes me smile and it slows my pace down a bit. By the end of the 4 minutes I’m ready to pick it up again!
5. Let it Rock by Kevin Rudolf – As I bump up the speed on the treadmill I fall quickly into step with this song. Its steady beat moves me through and I swear it makes me want to go faster.
6. Untouched by The Veronicas – Now is the time for me to keep the pace fast, and this song keeps the motivation strong. Be like me and sing along, even if you get strange looks from your treadmill neighbors.
7. Don’t Get Me Wrong by The Pretenders – Although this song has a peppy beat, the slower lyrics help remind me to bring my heart rate down a bit before pushing through the end of my workout.
8. You Wreck Me by Tom Petty – I don’t know about you, but I love me all kinds of Tom Petty. This song, followed by the next, helps me push myself to the upper limits.
9. Runnin’ Down a Dream by Tom Petty – This is my absolute favorite last workout song to play. At a solid 4+ minutes it holds me strong, and the lyrics are motivational. If you’re like me, you might actually trick your legs into thinking that you are indeed running down a dream!
10. Bottle It Up by Sara Bareilles – Need to cool down and still have fun? Throughout this 3-minute song, I slowly get my heart and feet to follow the steady beat and before I know it, I feel relaxed and refreshed.

So, there you have it. When you’re all said and done with this list, you will have run just over 40 minutes. A nice thing about a playlist like this is that you can use it for any level runner. If you’re a beginner, “pushing yourself” might mean something totally different than if you’re a hard core runner. Either way, the changes in the music will help remind you to speed up or slow down, and keep your workout interesting.

Erin believes that you should be able to make your cake and eat it, too. That’s why she writes Domestic Adventure (http://www.domesticadventure.com) , a blog that follows her pursuit of domestic happiness as she juggles life, love and her career. By day Erin is a fundraising and PR professional for a nonprofit organization. She lives near Bar Harbor, Maine, with her husband Chris and their dog Frankie.



And thanks to Erin (from Domestic Adventure) for sharing with us her awesome list of tunes. If YOU'D like to write a guest post or be featured on (never home)maker, just head over to our Reader Spotlight page for all the gooey details!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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