Part-time Vegetarian

I decided a couple weeks ago that there needed to be a change in Stephen's and my diet.

There were a few factors contributing to this decision.

Those factors being:

The lack of vegetables in our diet.

The squishiness of Stephen's middle section.

And all the research that has been coming out about health benefits of vegetarianism.

We have been eating pretty healthy for a while.

We always buy hormone free meat and dairy products.

We try to buy local produce when we can.

We never eat fast food (well, I never do, Stephen sneaks it at work every once in a while, but not much)

We try and stay away from overly processed foods.

And we almost never drink soda.

But with all that, I was still finding myself including very few vegetables in our diet.

So I decided that we would become part-time vegetarians.

Now some of you who know Stephen and I know that a couple months ago we bought a bulk order of local, hormone free, beef.

We will still be eating that meat but only once or twice a week.

I am just shooting for most of our meals to be vegetarian, not all, we like meat.

Now we ate plenty of "vegetarian" dishes before, but all in the form of pasta, way too much pasta.

So to help me, I went out and bought this book:



I LOVE it!

I always hated recipes that call for 20 ingredients and 15 of them are things you don't have on hand and that you will only use twice and will go bad before you use it the second time.

Not with this book.

Only 5 ingredients and that includes everything but salt and pepper.

Many of the recipes are vegan too.

A lot of the recipes call for different kinds of grains and beans.

This is great because I just stocked up on canned beans and grains and always have them on hand.



(I love any chance to use jars and my label maker!)

So here are some of the recipes we have tried so far.

(Sorry the pictures aren't great, I had to take them while being badgered by a hungry husband)

Cheese Tortellini with Zucchini


Black-Eyed Peas with Bulgur and Tomatoes (vegan)


Warm Potato and Goat Cheese Salad


Gingered Coconut Rice and Garlicky Black Beans (vegan)


Brown Rice with Chickpeas and Tomatoes (vegan)


Spinach Pasta with Zucchini, Squash and Tomatoes


Pasta with Asparagus and Goat Cheese


Now as I have been making these meals I have made Stephen rate them 1-5 stars so I can keep track of what he likes and what he doesn't.

Now the problem I began to find was that he never rated higher than a 3.

I finally asked why and he said "Oh, the food is good...and I would want it again but....it's a "3" compared to like Chef Marvo."

Chef Marvo!

Chef Marvo is a Michelin star rated chef!

No wonder I was only getting a 3.

I had to explain to Stephen that it's apples and oranges here and restaurant food can not be included in the scale for rating my cooking.

I told him, "A "5" is like your favorite beef stir fry I make, NOT filet mignon with a red wine reduction sauce served on black truffle infused mashed potatoes. Ok?"

He is still having a hard time going above a "3".

I think the highest I have gotten is a 3.75.

But overall most of the recipes have been really good, though neither of us liked the spinach pasta.

Hopefully we will keep it up and be healthier because of it.

Tonight it's Quinoa, Broccoli and Cheese Casserole.



PS We don't do tofu. We don't like the taste and I have developed a fear of soy products. Just google the health dangers of soy and you will develop a fear too.

RIP Soy milk

I miss you.

Almond milk is not half as good as you.

Captain Wolfe

Today my wonderful husband was promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Captain.

If you're not familiar with the Army or the rank structure, just know that that is a pretty significant promotion.

And a nice pay raise.

So today we had his promotion ceremony.

We handed the camera over to one of his coworkers and he relieved my worried heart by taking good pictures and not breaking the camera.

So because Stephen's family were not able to come and because I want to, I am going to talk you through the ceremony.

With pictures of course.

The ceremony was in front of one of the battalion headquarters.

The ceremony starts with Stephen's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Lanier, welcoming everyone who came and saying a word or two about Stephen.



The audience (past and current coworkers).



Then was the Attention to Orders (this signals all the soldiers to stand at attention to hear the orders) at which point I was told to come stand by Stephen.



Then the promotion orders was read (as follows)

"The President of the United States of America,

To all who shall see these presents, greeting:

Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of Stephen M. Wolfe, I do appoint him Captain in the United States Army to rank as such from the first day of July, 2011. This officer will therefore carefully and diligently discharge the duties of the office to which appointed by doing and preforming all manner of things thereunto belonging.

And I do strictly charge and require those officers and other personnel of lesser tank to render such obedience as is due an officer of this grade and position. And, this officer is to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as may be given by the President of the United States of America or other superior officers, acting in accordance with the laws of the United States of America. This commission is to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States of America under the provisions of those public laws relating to officers of the Armed Forces of the United States of America and the component thereof in which this appointment is made."

While this was being read I had to do the one little job assigned to me.

I was so nervous!

For one, I really don't like being the center of attention and two, I was sure I was going to mess this up.

Here is what was going on in my head.

"Ok, take his old patch off and put the new patch on (bars vertical, don't mess that up)....check."



"Take his old hat off and throw it behind him (try not to look too girly doing this, or throw it so poorly that it comes back and smacks you in the face) and put his new hat on (if I can reach) ...check. Whoo! Glad that's over."



Then Stephen takes the Oath of Office.





He gets handed a fancy framed copy of the promotion orders.



Then everyone claps and its his turn to make a speech at which point I have empathy stage fright.



I love this picture. You can tell the commander is saying "That WAS you!"



He was saying this because Stephen was reminding him about how the first time they met it was when Stephen was running a training event and one of the soldiers fired off his rifle at the wrong time. At the time it was a big deal and the commander was not happy about it. But now he obviously thought it was pretty darn funny.

He thanked all the people he worked with and said how much he learned from all of them.

Then he called me up (even while typing this I am getting butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it!)



I was prepared for some little thank you to me but not this!

He gave me a beautiful lei.



And a pretty bouquet.



Then he told everyone how I quit my job to be a homemaker and full time wife.



He said that I was a wonderful godly woman and how much he appreciates my support and all I do for him.

Then, he asked everyone to join him in honoring me and they all clapped!



Needless to say I was not the only teary eyed person there.

Then pose for a picture.



Then everyone comes up and shakes our hands and says "congratulations".



What is interesting to me is how much they include me in all this, the commander in the beginning welcomed everyone to the promotion of "Stephen Wolfe and his wife Megan".

And everyone was telling me "congratulations".

Does that mean I'm a captain now?

Hmm, or maybe just the wife of a captain.

From now on I'll be Mrs. CPT Stephen Wolfe.

Be sure to call me that from now on.

So anyways, that was the ceremony and then we brought some food from Costco for a little reception.

It all went really well and I am so proud of my Captain.

Guess

Guess whose turn it was to do yard work?



(This picture was taken from inside by the way)

(Inside the air conditioned house)

(While sitting on the couch)

(With a beer in hand)

(Just kidding)

(Maybe)

Bursts of Creativity

I, in my awesomeness, was featured in another blog!

Melissa from Burst of Creativity bought a custom piece from me a while back and must have liked it because she recently bought another piece from me.

She is making over her craft room and plans to decorate the my pieces.

Looking at her shop and her blog makes me wish I was a scrapbooker.

She is really talented.

So here's the link for my feature:

http://burstsofcreativity.blogspot.com/2011/06/clever-apple-etsy-shop.html

Make sure to check out the rest of her blog while your there!

What's up

So I am lagging behind again on the blog posts.

Blame Stephen.

Stephen got back from Texas a little over a week ago.

He got in at 2:30am on Wednesday.

Why the military can't travel at decent hours, I don't know.

It certainly isn't conducive to looking cute for your husband after he has been gone 3 weeks.

Since he's been back we've had a lot of fun.

We went to the cupcake shop again.

We saw Super 8.

(Which was good but I hate movies that are made to seem like kids movies and than turn out to be inappropriate. It causes the inner mother in me to come out.)

We also went on a hike with some friends to this waterfall.



It was really pretty.

We had fun jumping off the rocks into the pool.

We also got to eat some strawberry guavas that were growing near the trail.

That's something you don't experience hiking on the mainland.

Random tropical fruit.

We also saw one of these things.



It started a debate on whether it was a bug or a bird.

I was convinced it was a humming bird.

It moved and looked just like one.

(That was when I realized for the first time that I had never seen a humming bird in Hawaii and have since learned there are none)

It was a kind of moth.

We went to this the celebrate our anniversary.



I had some fun with my make up.



We tasted 2 Chardonnays, 1 Pinot Noir, 4 Cabernet Sauvignons and 1 dessert wine called Dolce.

All from Nickel & Nickel or Far Niente (both have the same owner).

It was a lot of fun.

The people we were sitting near knew way more about wine than we do.

We were able to say that we were from Napa and had been to Far Niente.

So ha!

Then they started talking about the differences in the wines grown in the Stags Leap district compared to the Carneros district and we felt stupid again.

Afterwards we walked over to the theater and saw Midnight in Paris.

Which is a really good movie by the way.

Or at least it seemed like it after tasting all that wine ;o)

Campfire Chic Interview

It's up!

My interview with Campfire Chic!

I feel so famous.

Check it out here:

http://campfirechicblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/seller-interview-megan-of-clever-apple.html

Thanks Kam!!

Also up are some new pieces in my shop.

I love this piece.





It's one of my favorites.

The "&" was made with a new satin silver floss I got and I love how it turned out.

Then there are these two super cute fabric pieces.





Who doesn't love some cute old lady goats sewing?

I had originally bought the fabric with the intention of doing some embroidery on it but I decided it was just so cute on its own that it deserved to be framed as is.

I also have made a new "Do Something Creative Everyday" piece that is 6 inches rather than the 8 inches.



I love adding the single sequin, its such a fun little detail.

I am also really excited because I finally sold Mimi the Mouse!



She was one of my first pieces way back in January.

I never understood why no one seemed to want her.

She was always one of my favorites.

But now she is headed to a nice home in Michigan.

Bye Mimi!

So all and all, an exciting week for CleverApple.

Guest/Craft Room

I realized the other day while looking through some old blog posts that I never finished the before and afters of the house!

Worst of all, I forgot to show you my favorite room!

The craft room! (also the guest room)

Here is the before:



Taking down that stupid border was such a pain!

After!



Aren't those scissors awesome! I got them at Target!

Guest Room Side:



Sorry guests, we never got around to getting a bed frame.

Craft Room Side:



Here is my little work space for my Etsy stuff.



Androgynous Andy helping me with my apple tags.



This is what I do with some of my pieces in limbo:



They are crying "please buy us and give us a forever home!"

Now not only do I love this room because it has all of my wonderful crafting supplies but also because of the special decor pieces.

Like this antique writing desk and piano stool.



That piano stool holds a lot of memories for me.

That was the stool my mom always used when she cut my hair as a child.

On top of the writing dest is the bouquet that I held while Maid of Honor at my best friend Anna's wedding.

This is the picture that is next to it.

(Sorry for the picture of a picture, I don't have a scanner)



That is Anna at her wedding.

The wedding dress was handmade by her mom.

It's a great crafting inspiration, as well as my very favorite picture of Anna.

This is where I keep a lot of my craft supplies.



That middle square is overflowing with Martha Stewart Living magazines.

I love Martha.

Well, at least the Martha corporation.

I don't know her well enough to say I love her personally.

On top of this organizer is a spice holder I got as a wedding present and had intended to use but it took up too much precious counter space.

So I used it here.



Here is the room facing the other direction.



Behind that cutain is this:



That blue dresser is filled with more craft supplies.

Don't ask me how I acumulated so many craft supplies, I honestly don't know.

I think they might multiply when I'm not looking.

Which is fine by me!